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THE GRIFFINS 




THE GRIFFINS 

A Colonial Tale 


BY 

MARY STUART YOUNG 

(Mrs. Louis G. Young) 


New York and Washington 
THE NEALE PUBLISHING COMPANY 
1904 



LIBRARY cf CONGRESS 
Two Copies Received 

NOV 10 I9U4 

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CLASSA XXc. N0i 

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COPY B. 



Copyright, 1904 
By Mary Stuart Young 


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DEDICATION 


To the Colonial Dames of America 
whose high purpose appeals to the 
noblest sentiments of human nature 
I dedicate this simple colonial tale 
in which Virtutis Majorum Filia Conservat 

MARY STUART YOUNG 


Savannah, Georgia 

September 15, 1904 


CONTENTS. 


Chapter. Page. 

I. Near the Noon-day of the Eighteenth 

Century, 9 

II. Introduces “My Lord Fairfax,” of 

Virginia, 22 

III. Samuel and Cyrus Having Reached 

England Early in 1773, we are In- 
troduced Through Means of Let- 
ters to London Society of More 
than a Hundred Years Since, .... 27 

IV. In Which we Learn how Raleigh Vin- 

dicated his Master’s Honor, 36 

V. Tells of Oxford’s Classic Shades and 
of a Certain English Clergyman 
and his Fair Daughter, “Mistress 

Dolly Braxton,” 48 

VI. In Which our Young Virginians Visit 

Traquair Castle, 59 

VII. Which Treats of Some Colonial Mat- 
ters, Some Family Matters, and 
Gives us a Glimpse of Tunbridge, 69 

VIII. Tells us of a Journey Taken by Certain 
Parties to London, and What Be- 
fell when they Reached There, . . 83 

IX. In Which we Return to Virginia After 

Three Years’ Absence, 95 


Chapter. Page. 

X. In Which we Meet With our Old 
Friend “Dr. Mercer,” now “Gen- 
eral,” and Bid Him a Last Fare- 
well, 105 

XI. In Which Mrs. Samuel Griffin Proves 
Her Loyalty and was True to Her 

Own Womanly Nature, 115 

XII. Dolly Listens to a Touching Story, 
and has Her Prayer Granted, as 
She Will “Know Hereafter,” .... 128 


XIII. The Old World Once More, Where 

We Meet with Warm Welcomes 
from the Friends of “Long Ago,” 135 

XIV. Lady Christine Appears in a New 

Role; a Short Disguise Accom- 
plishes Long Results ; we Take a 


Parting Glance at New York, ... 150 

XV. In Which we Pay a Visit to Philadel- 
phia, Along with Many Other 

Great Folk, and Behold — 158 

XVI. A Christmas Day in Old Virginia, ... 170 

XVII. Treats of Some Wedding Items, .... 180 


THE GRIFFINS 


CHAPTER I 

Near the Noon-day oe the Eighteenth Century 

Near the noon-day of the eighteenth century 
Le Roy Griffin, Gent., married Mary Betrand. 
Three fair sons were born to them, and when the 
school-master became a necessity, the fine old 
country seat of Berkeley Manor was temporarily 
vacated for Griffin Hall in Williamsburg. Here, 
at the old Brafton Grammar School, the three 
little masters were prepared for William and 
Mary College. In this time-honored seat of 
learning the sons of the gentry were fitted for 
Oxford, Cambridge, Edinboro, and the courts of 
the Temple, and Lincoln’s Inn. In due time Cor- 
bin, Samuel, and Cyrus completed the studies 
required of them. In addition, they had fought 
many mimic battles, had learned to hold the 
brave Colonel Washington in high esteem, to 
believe Mr. Henry second only to Cicero; in 
short, they had imbibed the spirit of war and lib- 
erty and freedom with the very air they breathed. 
For there were stirring times in that noon-day of 
the 18th century; and in the Old Dominion were 


10 


The Griffins 


those who had fought and bled for Prince Charley 
“In the ’45” and afterwards for King George at 
Fort Duquesne. Nor were they inconsistent. As 
between the Stuart and the Hanoverian, their 
choice was with the first; as between French and 
English, their choice was with the last. But 
the Stamp Act trouble had sunk deep into the 
hearts and minds of men. The good Lord Bo- 
tetourt, having been Governor of Virginia, had 
lived in semi-regal style at “The Palace,” an im- 
posing brick structure with a fine front and two 
massive wings, surrounded by grounds which ex- 
tended in front to the Duke of York Street. But 
now Botetourt had died of a “disease aggra- 
vated by great mental suffering.” When the cloud 
no bigger than a man’s hand had first appeared 
my Lord Botetourt became anxious lest a storm 
should burst upon the land where all was so fair 
and prosperous ; but the political weather-prophet 
reassured him. 

King George and Lord North, however, would 
not let things be, and said that “English men in 
America who had no part in the nation’s councils 
must pay taxes as the English at home did;” so 
two small tea-parties were given, one at Charleston 
and another at Boston, but no tea was drunk, for it 
was not palatable from the mouldy cellars or from 
the brine into which it had been thrown. In con- 
sequence of these things, my Lord Botetourt 
drank so bitter a cup of humiliation that he died 


The Griffins 


ii 


from the effects of the unwholesome draught of 
promises broken to his people ; and all the colony 
mourned for him as the truest friend and gentle- 
man who had ever governed in Virginia. Some 
fine lines were writ in memory of him. 

“Just, noble, generous, 

Steady, not timorous, 

Botetourt came; 

He did defend our laws 
And gave our country cause 
To sing with loud applause 
Botetourt’s fame.” 

But all in vain was praise or blame to him now. 
He “had done what he could” and his brave heart 
could no longer bear the strain ; so “having been 
long physically very weak,” he passed away to that 
land where there are no more taxes, because all 
have been paid for us nearly two thousand years 
ago on Calvary. 

Lord Dunmore succeeded to the governorship 
and the little capital was very gay in spite of the 
troublous time, when one bright June day a worthy 
class of graduates received their diplomas from 
William and Mary College. From far and near the 
gentle-folk had come to participate in the merry- 
making attendant upon the closing exercises and 
to be present at the grand ball to be given at the 
palace in the evening. Thackeray has painted in 
his matchless style the ball at which Mme. Es- 
mond and her sons George and Harry Warrington 
played an important part ; our simpler annals deal 


12 


The Griffins 


with other mothers and other sons who likewise 
bore their parts well. The younger Griffin boys 
were among the graduates and had attained to no 
mean standing in their class, and now that books 
were to be laid aside for the nonce, they would 
catch a glimpse of the social life of the capital. So 
very bright and happy felt the Lady Griffin as 
leaning on her husband’s arm and followed by her 
two younger sons she entered the Lord Gover- 
nor’s ball-room. The scene was very brilliant, for 
the beauty and chivalry of which the colonies were 
justly proud had gathered there. Conspicuous 
among these stood the young Colonel Washing- 
ton, of the Virginia House of Burgesses, sur- 
rounded by a group of friends ; not very far away 
was Lady Washington, the handsomest and 
wealthiest matron in Virginia, looking girl-like 
still in the dress of soft East Indian stuff ordered 
from London. Near Colonel Washington were 
Mr. Patrick Henry, the Demosthenes of the Bur- 
gesses; his mentor, Mr. Thomas Jefferson, and 
Dr. Hugh Mercer, whose exploits at Culloden 
Moor in ’45 and at Fort Duquesne ten years later 
had made him the worthy friend of the patriots 
who sought to do him honor. There was eager 
interest manifested now as he spoke earnestly with 
the soft Scotch accent, for while the Dames were 
bewitched with the beauty of the scene, far other 
thoughts and words claimed the attention of the 
Dons. With bated breath they discussed the 
King’s policy; at last Colonel Mercer said: 


The Griffins 


13 


“All these troubles have come upon us because 
we have foresworn allegiance to the true Stuart 
and have accepted a foreign king; his father was 
no Englishman and the blood of James I flows but 
feebly in his veins. Very bad blood no doubt it is 
in many respects, but it is the only royal blood 
which Englishmen can find to rule over them and it 
has not been made better methinks by its blending 
with that of the German prince. There is one no 
whit less near to James, and yet no king is he, but 
simply 'Count of Albany,’ an alien from the throne 
of his fathers. His wrongs and his sufferings en- 
deared him to many of his Scotch subjects, and 
when his well-laid plans were brought to naught, 
we who had followed him had to find refuge in the 
Old Dominion, whose loyalty to the powers that 
be is blended with much of sympathy for the poor 
fugitive Stuart and his friends.” 

“Verily you are right, sir,” answered Mr. Grif- 
fin ; “yet if our honorable speaker could hear you, 
he would thunder 'treason’ at you as he did at Mr. 
Henry a few months since.” 

“And perhaps with no more effect,” said Colonel 
Washington, smiling. “Doctor,” he continued, 
“in all of our tramps together, which have been 
both many and long, I have never heard of your 
part in the young Pretender’s escape from Cullo- 
den, and yet I know that you aided him therein. 
This is neither the fitting time nor place, but at 
some early day I shall ask you to favor me with an 
account of it.” 


14 


The Griffins 


“Why not at the Hall to-morrow ?” said Mr. 
Griffin. Mr. Henry will join us, and Mr. Jefferson 
I hope, and there in safety and privacy we can lis- 
ten, and express sympathy with whomsoever we 
please.” 

The invitation was accepted with the simplicity 
which marked the manners of the day. “Good 
manners” was the phrase then; “good form” now 
takes its place ; may we not fear sometimes its na- 
ture is lost with its name? 

The following day the guests were seated at Mr. 
Griffin’s hospitable board ; dinner had been served, 
and when the servants in waiting had placed the 
wine on the fine old mahogany and withdrawn, Dr. 
Mercer narrated the following. 

“I think I was first led to feel a great interest 
in Charles Stuart because we are nearly the same 
age, and as a little fellow in my kilts I heard much 
talk of the Roman Prince who would one day get 
possession of all that his father had failed to win. 
Then as I grew older this hope became stronger, 
for the Prince gave promise of being the most 
kingly of his race. And so he was because of his 
ability to command, his constancy and courage; 
but hope deferred, and at last abandoned, has made 
him of late years fall into intemperate habits. ’Tis 
the vice of the age, and seems a greater evil in him 
because of his exalted rank. 

“When all was prepared for the campaign of 
1745 I offered my services as physician, and in this 


The Griffins 


15 


capacity served at Culloden. I will not repeat the 
sad story of the final overthrow of all of our hopes 
on that fatal field; it has passed into history. 
Coming after nightfall back to the battle-ground 
to give whatever aid my skill could afford to any 
wounded or dying, I wandered off at last a mile 
perhaps into a small low clump of shrubbery and 
threw myself down on my plaid. All was still save 
occasional sounds of Cumberland’s troopers, who 
were scouring the country in all directions; pres- 
ently a light rustling in the bushes and a low 
breathing convinced me that I was not alone. I 
approached without much feeling of alarm, until as 
I drew nearer a bright sword flash in the moon- 
light caused me to feel for my own short sword — 
my only weapon of defense. A voice I knew at 
once to be Charles Stuart’s exclaimed, 'Who goes 
there?’ I replied with the watch-word, 'A Stuart, 
your Highness.’ 

“ 'Ah ! is it you, my faithful friend ? I fear there 
are but few now whom I can call so, albeit this 
morning’s sun shone on a merry multitude who 
bore the name of friends.’ 

" 'And many still remain, beloved Prince,’ I re- 
plied; ‘but what do you here, while Cumberland’s 
troopers are scouring the country far and wide in 
search of you and why are you thus alone?’ 

" ‘Because I feared an escort would only endan- 
ger other lives, and mine own, so I hid from many 
who might have been inclined to go with me, until 


i6 


The Griffins 


the moon’s going down would give me a chance to 
escape ; and I will trust to my sword to defend my 
life if necessary; I will yield it only after having 
shown myself worthy of it. Ah, Hugh, I am indeed 
aweary of living, and were I sure the hounds would 
kill me I think they might do so. But they are not 
generous enough to slay ; they would capture, and 
carry me before my German cousin’s tribunal; 
from thence convey me to the Tower, and the 
Block; but we have had enough of this bloody 
work at the hands of our subjects, and cousins, and 
never will I be taken alive!’ As he spoke his 
youthful face showed such firm resolve that I 
thought had the MacDonalds seen him look so 
they would not have placed him in this present 
plight by refusing to fight on the left, when all else 
was lost and they had it in their power to save the 
day. 

“ ‘Spoken like your own noble self, my Prince,’ 
I replied. ‘My father’s house is hard by, and the 
swift little mare Winnie in the stable. Will you 
honor me by riding her? Disguised in my oldest 
Tartan you can easily reach the coast by to-mor- 
row eve. I will precede you a short distance, and 
will find some stout fellows who, for a little gold, 
will ask you no questions and row you to the Heb- 
rides, where you will find those ready to do any 
service and to dare all for your sake.’ 

“ ‘Wisely thought and well spoken ; so let us 
leave this hiding-place, for the moon is low, and 


The Griffins 


17 


every hour of darkness will aid us. But hark! 
what sound do I hear ?’ As he spoke, horses , 
hoofs were approaching, and soon a body of cav- 
alrymen came nearer, and we heard one say, ‘Our 
orders are to capture him alive, and he is no doubt 
not far off ; so let us take things a little easily and 
rest our horses under these trees.’ At these words 
my heart stood still, so fearful was I lest the 
Prince, in his reckless disregard for his life, should 
betray our presence. But soon I was relieved, for 
the commanding officer replied that he knew a bet- 
ter place of shelter for the night a hundred yards 
farther on, and yet not too far off to keep a look- 
out at day-dawn. They then rode off, and shortly 
after, over rocks and through thickets which I had 
known well since boyhood, we reached my father’s. 
I soon had Winnie ready and my plaid on his 
Highness; then mounting Highlander, the pony 
which I used in riding through the country visiting 
as a physician, I went off a few hundred yards in 
advance, and by sunrise we had accomplished some 
miles of riding, without having been molested in 
any way. But it was necessary for both ourselves 
and our horses that some refreshment should be 
obtained, and about 7 o’clock we came to a little 
inn on Lock Marye, and dismounted. The Prince 
was well disguised, the blue bonnet which he wore 
concealing his hair ; yet to my dismay, as we were 
preparing to mount again, we saw two officers of 
the King approaching. 


2 


i8 


The Griffins 


“Afraid to create suspicion by too great haste, 
we led our horses out a few paces, and were about 
to spring into our saddles when we were compelled 
to turn, as one of the officers, in a tone of author- 
ity, hallooed to us, ‘Not so fast, my bold horsemen; 
I would have a few words with you/ Seeing the 
extreme peril of the Prince, I quietly walked my 
horse beside his, back through the stable court, 
and awaited the result. 

“ ‘Whither are ye bound?’ 

“ ‘To the coast,’ I replied. 

“ ‘Know ye aught of yesterday’s bloody fight?’ 

“ ‘Yea; all that a plain mon like mysel’ should 
ken.’ 

“ ‘Hast heard of the reward offered for the 
young fool’s head ?’ 

“ ‘Whom may ye mean, sir? There be mony a 
one would come under that title, I trow.’ 

“ ‘Whom should I mean but the young Charles 
Edward ? If you or your silent comrade there will 
bring him alive to one of his Majesty’s officers, you 
will no longer have to wear such shabby gear, for 
no less a sum than thirty thousand pounds is put 
upon his head.’ 

“The Prince’s familiarity with the French 
tongue made him easily acquire the rolling ‘r’ 
which forms the chief difference between the Eng- 
lish and Scotch pronunciation. It stood him in 
good stead now as he answered : 

“ ‘Sorely do I stand in need of such a sum, yet 


The Griffins 


19 


fearful I am of not procuring it; for our journey 
ends at dark; and “fool” though Charles Stuart 
in truth is, yet do you think his folly is great 
enough to tempt him into the broad glare of day 
from his hiding-place ?’ 

“This was said so quietly and with so broad an 
accent, that all suspicion was disarmed, and the 
officer replied courteously: 

“‘Well spoken, fair sir; and methinks the for- 
tune would well become you, for your speech is 
forsooth finer than your clothes.’ 

“Touching our bonnets, we rode on, and by 
means of by-paths and quiet roads reached the 
coast without further adventure about dusk. Leav- 
ing the Prince in a secluded spot, I went forward to 
see what could now be done. Going into a deep 
cleft in the rocks, which formed a sort of cave in 
which as a boy I had played, I saw a soldier fast 
asleep, wrapped in his plaid ; scanning him closely, 
I discovered to my joy that it was O’Neill, who had 
proved his devotion to the Prince’s cause, and in 
yesterday’s fight had done good service. I tried for 
some time to wake him, but in vain, so utterly 
overcome was he by fatigue. At last I succeeded, 
and in a few words made known to him the near 
presence of the Prince. As I did so he sprang to 
his feet, and a minute later was on bended knee 
before his royal leader, whom he had sought in 
vain ere finding safety, for himself in flight. He 
had reached the coast a few hours previously, and 


20 


The Griffins 


had arranged with some trusty clansman to row 
him over to Skye at midnight, where with some 
of the MacDonalds he would be safe. The Prince 
could accompany him thither with but compara- 
tively little risk. All was arranged, and when I 
could do no more for their comfort or safety I bade 
them farewell and received grateful acknowledg- 
ment from the Prince for the service I had ren- 
dered him; though in truth ’twas but slight, and 
his own mother-wit helped him as much as aught 
else. I saw him in London in ’53, and he gave me 
then the account of his final escape from his pur- 
suers by the aid of Mistress Flora MacDonald. 
This is now familiar to all, and no doubt these fair 
dames here present would have been inspired to do 
as much for the Prince who has so much of ro- 
mance mingled with the hard realities of his life. ,, 

“Yes,” said Mr. Henry, “ ‘romance’ covers a 
multitude of sins, and I fear me ’tis human nature 
to feel more of interest in the unfortunate one who 
is young and dashing and bold, than in a battle- 
scarred veteran who is without teeth, and lantern- 
jawed.” 

“Nay, sir; you do us wrong,” said Lady Wash- 
ington. “Rather say that one views with different 
feelings the vigorous young sapling which has 
been up-rooted by a storm and the giant oak pros- 
trated by the same. Over one we mourn the prom- 
ise of what might have been; over the other we 


The Griffins 


21 


think of a grand life, ended it may be in ruin, but 
having well fulfilled its destiny.” 

Mr. Henry courteously acknowledged the well- 
placed sentiment of his fair opponent and Mr. Grif- 
fin replied to him : 

“Sir, ’tis yours ‘the applause of listening senates 
to command,’ but when our fair ones lift up their 
voices in opposition, you become even as one of us 
feebler folk. So it has ever been, and will be even 
to the end of time.” 


CHAPTER II 


Introduces "My Lord Fairfax,” of Virginia. 

“A fine old English gentleman, one of ye olden time.” 

Life was now fairly open to our two young grad- 
uates, and the Chronicles tell of many a visit to 
“Westover,” where the beautiful Miss Willing, of 
Philadelphia, visited her aunt, Mrs. Byrd; of many 
a hunt; of dances in the old “Apollo Hair’ in the 
Raleigh Tavern, made ever memorable by Mr. 
Patrick Henry’s great speech in the House of Bur- 
gesses, which held its sittings there. On one hunt 
the Chronicles dwell at length. It was in Decem- 
ber, after the graduation of the Griffin boys. They 
were making preparations to leave in January for 
England, where Samuel would finish his studies at 
Oxford and Cyrus take the law course in the Tem- 
ple. 

“It were certainly most fitting that we paid our 
respects to Colonel and Mrs. Washington before 
we leave, Cyrus,” said Samuel; “and especially 
would I like to see his beautiful estate before I go, 
for as I am to be a planter when I return, I wish 
to be able to compare the modes of cultivation 
here and in England; and no man in Virginia 
knows more of practical agriculture than does Col- 
onel Washington.” 

So all was arranged in accordance with this wish, 


The Griffins 


23 


and our young gentlemen set off in fine style, ac- 
companied by their body-servants, Prince and Ra- 
leigh, on a visit to Mount Vernon. Their host met 
them with the quiet dignity and courtesy which 
always distinguished him, and Mrs. Washington’s 
greeting was simple and cordial. After the early 
dinner a ride over the broad acres enabled Samuel 
to examine with interest the carefully-prepared 
fields. After a brief visit they must say farewell 
and ride back to Williamsburg. But Colonel and 
Mrs. Washington would not have it so. Hospital- 
ity was one of the leading features of colonial life, 
and there was always a charm in entertaining one’s 
friends. Guests were never loath to remain at 
Mount Vernon, and to this rule Cyrus and Samuel 
were not exceptions. “Besides,” Colonel Wash- 
ington added by way of persuasion, “to-morrow I 
hunt with my Lord Fairfax, who is now at Belvoir, 
and I wish you to join us; the sport will be rare, 
for his Lordship keeps the finest pack in the coun- 
try; moreover, as you go so soon to England ’tis 
well that you should meet so fine a specimen of a 
nobleman as he is.” 

The next day dawned fair and bright ; no snow 
had as yet fallen, but a heavy frost lay on the 
ground and shrubbery. The road was along the 
river bank, and the view of water and hillside, the 
delightful freshness and lightness of the atmos- 
phere, the even pace of the horses at a gentle gal- 
lop combined to banish all care, so that when the 


24 


The Griffins 


party reached Belvoir they were overflowing with 
life and animal spirits. It needed only the pres- 
ence of the genial Baron to make all complete. 
Having come to Virginia to escape from painful 
associations with his home in England, “My Lord 
Fairfax” did not shut himself up in gloomy seclu- 
sion; on the contrary, he lived as did most of the 
noblemen of the time, keeping up much of state, 
and unbounded hospitality, never wearying of the 
chase. His acres are said to have numbered 
5,700,000, inherited in great part from his grand- 
father, Lord Culpepper. A fine type of an Eng- 
lishman of rank and wealth was he as he stood on 
this December morning ready to welcome his 
guests. 

“Ah, my gallant Colonel, here you are at last !” 
said he, heartily shaking his favorite’s hand ; “and 
as usual, when not fighting the enemy, ready to 
make war on poor Reynard. I am glad to know 
you young gentlemen,” he added as Colonel 
Washington introduced his friends. 

Thus, with pleasant, easy greeting, he met each 
one; then mounting a fine sorrel, and calling up 
the hounds, he led the way to the hunt as Mr. 
George Fairfax and one or two others joined the 
party. For some time they rode without catching 
sight of their prey, but at last the hounds gave un- 
mistakable sounds of having discovered the fox. 
'Now the sport began in earnest, and over fence 
and ditch, through field and marsh, they rode like 
mad — dogs, horses, riders all determined to win. 


The Griffins 


25 


Not so easy though, my Lord and gentlemen, for 
Mr. Fox proved a wily strategist, and only gave up 
his life after all devices had failed. But, as in most 
contests, open, plain dealing will at length prevail 
if it be combined with firm resolve, so it proved 
with poor Reynard. The well-trained hounds and 
skilful riders were too much for him, and having 
been driven into an open field from his last hiding- 
place, worn out with the long chase, he was quick- 
ly despatched by his pursuers. Cyrus, having been 
the first in at the death, severed the long bushy 
tail from the body. It was nearly thirteen inches 
in length and the body without it measured twenty 
inches. 

The tired, hungry sportsmen reached Mount 
Vernon just as the moon was rising over the river, 
and Cyrus said truly that “The day from sunrise to 
moonrise had been one of unmixed enjoyment,” 
as he met Mrs. Washington and presented to her 
the trophy of the chase. Everything was warmth 
and light and comfort within, with certain little 
touches of the beautiful here and there which only 
a woman's hand can give. Lord Fairfax, as he 
entered the dining-room with the wife of his host 
leaning upon his arm, made notice of some 
changes since he was last there. 

“What have you been doing, George,” he said. 
“I remember not seeing things look so before your 
marriage. Billy at all times kept the house with 
great neatness, and served us well; yet there is 
something else this evening, methinks.” 


26 


The Griffins 


‘‘It is because I have found a help-meet for me, 
my Lord; and the crust of the bachelor has fallen 
off from the house no less than from its master.” 
To which his Lordship made no reply, for in the 
attic at Greenmay Court, whither he would soon 
return, lay a missive growing yellow as time wore 
on. In its folds might be found the answer to the 
question, Why was my Lord Fairfax of Virginia 
not now in his old English home? Colonel Wash- 
ington’s words recalled the long-past time when he 
had hoped that the deft fingers of one he loved 
would make that home beautiful, and her bright 
smile and the ringing laughter of childish voices 
would bring perpetual sunshine to his heart; but 
she would not have it so, and in a distant land he 
sought and (let us hope) found solace in doing his 
duty as a citizen, a friend, and a Christian. Soon 
he rose to leave, and as he bade farewell he said to 
Samuel and Cyrus : 

“I am right glad that your father sends you so 
soon to England ; we must needs keep up the feel- 
ing of loyalty by returning the youth of the col- 
onies to the Motherland sometimes. Truly the 
‘lines have fallen to us in pleasant places’ in the 
Old Dominion, yet the mother cannot be excelled 
by the daughter. Ah ! George, Mr. Henry would 
not be so anxious to part from the old country did 
he but know what it is that he will sever us from ; 
but a truce to politics, and Heaven keep us at 
peace.” 


CHAPTER III 


Samuel and Cyrus Having Reached England Early in 
1773, we are Introduced Through Means oe Letters to 
London Society More than a Hundred Years Since. 

“I well remember the favors of these men." 

From Cyrus Griffin to His Mother. 

“Most dear and honored Mother: 

“Two days since we reached this place — of all in 
the world most interesting to every loyal English- 
man; our passage, has been described to you in 
full, in the letters which the Captain has sent for us 
by a vessel which left on yesterday. As soon as 
our baggage was all safely landed, we secured a 
coach and drove to the Baron of Wolverton’s 
charming villa. It is very near the river’s bank, to 
which a lawn extends, shaded by fine oaks. The 
house is built in the Elizabethan style, of which I 
have seen nothing at home, and I think it very 
beautiful. A servant in livery answered Raleigh’s 
summons, and bowing very grandly as he ap- 
proached our coach, said : 

“ ‘The young gentlemen from America were ex- 
pected; would they be kind enough to await the 
Baron’s return from the Parliament House?’ but, 
we decided it were best to go at once to our lodg- 
ings, lest some embarrassment might follow, to 
our servants in the midst of the Baron’s grand 


28 


The Griffins 


lacqueys, and lest the advent of four instead of two 
strangers might cause some inconvenience. We 
obtained the needed address, and soon after were 
comfortably located on the Strand, midway be- 
tween Temple Court and Charing-Cross. About 
noon, the following day, the Baron called. His 
greeting was very kind, and he was pleased to say 
that I looked very like my father did when they 
were at Cambridge together, thirty years ago. 
He invited us to dine with him at 4 o’clock. 
Accordingly Raleigh and Prince took great pride 
in arraying us in the fine suits we wore to my Lord 
Dunmore’s ball; (they made quite sure that we 
were to dine with no less a person than his Ma- 
jesty,) and we drove to Hawley House, with all the 
air of being accustomed to our fine clothes, and to 
driving each day in the year! We met some men 
of learning and of fashion in the drawing-room. 
The Baron’s nephew — Mr. Horace Walpole, occu- 
pied the seat opposite his uncle at dinner; I was 
much interested in his conversation, which if it be 
evidence of his nature, shows him to be not at all 
a man of one idea ; for at one time he would extol 
republican notions, and the next minute would 
speak in favor of the different ranks and social 
grades which exist in England ; he would be 
ardent in his expressions of love for letters, again 
would seem to rather hold them in light esteem; 
so, between his desire to be an aristocrat and a 
republican, a student and a fine gentleman, at one 


The Griffins 


29 


and the same time, he entertained me much. His 
manners are certainly excellent, and his informa- 
tion great on many subjects. He spoke of the 
men of his father’s time somewhat; and said, he 
had heard many grand orators, but my Lord 
Chesterfield, (who is now very infirm) was in his 
day, the most polished and brilliant of them all. 

“A place on the right of Mr. Walpole was 
assigned me, so I had a fine opportunity of hearing 
his discourse; on his left, sat a Mr. Anstey, who 
has writ some very witty verses on society at Bath ; 
Samuel was at the Baron’s right hand, and a sprig- 
gish nobleman sat on his left, whose manners did 
not please me overmuch, as he could not conceal 
his pride of place as ‘my Lord Ashton,’ and courted 
special marks of favor from the company, because 
of his title I thought; I was pleased to note that 
Samuel’s natural elegance* of manner and bearing 
did not at all forsake him ; but enabled him to hold 
his place, as quite the equal of the men around him 
as a gentleman ; and in his learning, he is far ahead 
of my Lord Ashton, who was the only young man 
at the t^ble besides ourselves. The Baron’s con- 
versation did not at all times satisfy me, for he told 
anecdotes of life at court during the last King’s 
reign, that I would not for a great deal have had 
you to hear ; and yet no one seemed much 
shocked, and I concluded that familiarity with such 
a court as George Second held, must have lowered 


*He was spoken of as the most elegant man in the colony. 


30 


The Griffins 


the tone of refined society, and that its atmosphere 
had not reached so far as Virginia ; so Samuel and 
I were somewhat ignorant of 'fine manners’ but 
think we know something of ‘Good manners.’ I 
trust I am committing no breach of the same in 
thus writing of mine host, for I well know it to be 
wrong to make comment of what passes under a 
roof whose hospitality we are enjoying; yet, I wish 
you to know all of our doings, and how we are 
impressed with life here, and everything told you 
will be carefully guarded I know. 

“The dinner was served after the French or con- 
tinental style; only one dish being handed at a 
time, accompanied by one vegetable. What would 
Mammy Tina say to this piece-meal division of her 
two roasts and four side-dishes of vegetables which 
constitute the orthodox dinner in Virginia? A 
good deal of wine was drunk, but no one drank too 
much, save perhaps my Lord Ashton, whose ambi- 
tion seemed to be to excel in this. After staying 
at table two hours or so we withdrew, and the 
Baron appointed to meet us to-day at 12, and I 
then made my formal entry as a student of the 
Temple. All preliminaries had been arranged by 
the Baron, and I am fairly launched upon my 
studies, having passed without much trouble the 
examination requisite. Samuel will write to-mor- 
row, and will no doubt give you his views of all that 
he has observed in London. He sends much love 
and reverence to you, and to our father. We are 


The Griffins 


3i 


off to the play in a short time ; so I will bring this 
to a close. With love for both yourself and my 
father, and with a great desire to be near you, 
sometimes, I am, my dear mother, 

“Your ever loving and dutiful son, 
“Cyrus Griffin. 

“To Lady Mary Gridin .” 

[N. B. — The title of “Lady” was commonly 
given to the Virginia matrons of the 18th century.] 

From Samuel Gridin to His Father. 

“My dear Father : 

“Cyrus has written to our mother, and promised 
a letter from me to-day; and in making good this 
promise, I wish first of all to tell you how Cyrus 
has been received by the Honorable Lord with 
whom he is to learn all about that ‘grand code' of 
laws he talks so finely of. Baron Wolverton had 
made known to him your wish that Cyrus should 
remain in London for several years, to prepare 
himself for public life at home ; but he was ignor- 
ant of the fact that Cyrus had been at books ever 
since Mammy Tina had to fetch him to the school, 
lest he should fall into some harm because of his 
being so small ; and that aided by my mother, and 
stimulated to ambition by the progress which I 
made under your care, he has now acquired a good 
knowledge of the ancient tongues, albeit he does 
not love them for their beauties as I do. Thus his 
Lordship was much amazed that so learned a 


32 


The Griffins 


young collegian could have been educated in our 
Colony, and he says that so excellent a foundation 
having been laid, the superstructure will not be 
difficult and that Cyrus will return fully able to be 
your successor in those positions of trust which 
you wish now to lay aside, having had long service 
in them. There is a young Scotch gentleman who 
will study with him, Charles Stuart, son of the Earl 
of Traquair. I am right glad of this, for I disliked 
very much the thought of leaving him quite alone. 
This young nobleman is of refined and gentle bear- 
ing; I think not especially clever; and, I make no 
doubt that my brother and himself will become fast 
friends before they have been very long together. 
Last night we went to the Play, and saw the cele- 
brated Mr. Garrick act Hamlet. 

“Two years ago, he gave at Stratford-on-Avon, 
a grand Jubilee performance in honor of ‘Master 
Wm. Shakespeare’s memory’ and this he has now 
repeated for more than 70 nights at Drury Lane, 
and it will doubtless continue for some time 
longer. 

“You know how we have always enjoyed repre- 
sentations of Shapespeare’s plays as they have been 
given by our paid company in Williamsburg, and 
as ‘light excelleth darkness’ so does Mr. Garrick 
excel any other actor. So great is his genius that 
he moves one from tears to laughter by sheer force 
of his power to render pathos one minute and 
mirth the next; withal he is so true to nature. 


The Griffins 


33 


“He is charitable to the poor, and much devoted 
to his wife, who was a German dancing-girl ; his 
friends are among the first men in London society 
in rank — at the bar, in the pulpit, on the bench, 
and those much given to letters. All hold him in 
high esteem. He was at one time entered as a 
law-student of Lincoln’s Inn, and when I heard 
Cyrus’ expression of such great admiration for his 
genius, I felt some fear lest his own head should 
be turned from the law to the stage! but I think 
he has small talent for acting, of any kind, being 
(if possible) too open and frank. 

“Mr. Pope has said of Garrick, that ‘he has never 
had an equal, and will never have a rival,’ and ’tis 
hard to believe that he can be excelled in this or 
any future age; he is also an excellent Stage 
Manager, and puts on each play with marvelous 
good effect. The dressing of the women was very 
fine, and our mother’s best gown, ordered for Lord 
Dunmore’s ball, was (albeit so grandly beautiful in 
our eyes,) not finer than many we saw at the play ; 
but no one set off a gown with so stately a grace 
as the Lady Griffin, nor in our eyes were there any 
so fair, as some oi those who lent their presence to 
the Ball, and to our smaller dances at the ‘Apollo.’ 
The Misses Catherine and Judith Page, of ‘Broad- 
neck,’ and that marvelous beauty, Miss Willing, 
of Philadelphia, cannot be surpassed methinks 
On Monday next I leave this charming London 
life for hard study at Oxford; I have engaged 


3 


34 


The Griffins 


seats for Prince and myself in the coach that leaves 
the ‘Boar’s Head Tavern.’ With much love for 
my mother, I am, dear sir, 

“Your dutiful son, 
“Samuel Llewellyn Grifein. 
“To Thomas Griffin. (Gent : — )” 

One of Corbin’s letters finds a place here in the 
Chronicles, but much of it was too much marred 
to be deciphered ; we gather from it the following, 
written from the Northwest Territory, which he 
was surveying: 

“Now that Samuel and Cyrus have left you, I 
have determined to return home very soon, that 
you may not feel utterly bereft of your children ; I 
enjoyed very much your account of Dr. Mercer’s 
aid to Prince Charles Edward, when they were ‘out 
in the ’45 ;’ and strange to relate, on my way here 
I met not very far from the Ohio, with an old 
Indian Chief, who told me how a white ‘Medicine 
man’ had saved his child’s life and that he had con- 
ducted him to the English headquarters where 
General Braddock was dying. From what I have 
heard of Dr. Mercer’s wanderings after Fort 
Duquesne, I think it probable he was the Surgeon 
referred to. The story is too long for my letter, 
but when I reach home I will tell it to you, and 
perhaps your friend will give us then an account of 
the whole affair, which will exceed in interest even. 


The Griffins 


35 


the story he has already related. I think he must 
be almost the equal of our gallant Colonel Wash- 
ington; and indeed, the accounts one hears of 
Wolfe and Montcalm, in Quebec, make one believe 
brave deeds are not uncommon in this age.” 


CHAPTER IV. 


In Which we Learn how Raeeigh Vindicated his Master’s 
Honor. 

“Can Honor set an arm?” “No”; “Or a leg?” “No.” 

As Samuel had foreseen, it was not long ere 
Charles Stuart and Cyrus were warm friends, and 
he was introduced into a circle of refinement and 
rank. Frequently, after their daily tasks were 
completed, they would stroll to “White’s” coffee- 
house, and dine together before preparing for the 
evening’s entertainment. It happened that on a 
rainy April evening they had dined, and were, with 
a few habitues of the place, discussing politics and 
a hot negus at the same time. They lingered 
longer than was usual with them, because the 
weather was such that but little inducement was 
offered to change the bright convivial scene for the 
murky atmosphere of the streets The evening 
was passing pleasantly and swiftly, when my Lord 
Ashton and one or two of his chosen friends and 
satellites entered, and the brilliant idea entered this 
fine nobleman’s very small brain that he would add 
to the hilarity of the company by making the “beau 
sauvage” from the colonies a target for his witty 
shafts. For some time all fell so far short of the 
mark, that no harm was done. At last his final 
venture to provoke a retort was made — with suc- 
cess. 


The Griffins 


37 


“Ah! tell us something of ‘les belles dames;’ 
occasional reports represent them as very charm- 
ing, and moreover not averse to exhibiting those 
charms right lavishly.” 

Traquair, with his good common sense and his 
cool Scotch blood, not heated by the negus, which 
he had been accustomed to drink since boyhood, 
endeavored to reply before Cyrus could do so; 
but the hot Southern temper was now fully 
aroused, and the insult, in addition to the strong 
drink, had made his blood mount to fever heat; 
yet had he self-control to say : 

“My Lord, in Virginia we are taught two things 
— first to accept no insult tamely, and second to 
treat every true woman with honor and courtesy. 
I know nothing of what code you are guided by, 
but mine teaches me to demand immediate apology 
for your words.” 

To which “his Lordship” replied by placing his 
eye-glasses on his nose, his hands upon his hips, 
and staring with a mixture of surprise and con- 
descension at the youthful speaker. 

“Do you not hear, my Lord; did I not speak 
plainly?” Still no answer came from his Lord- 
ship, save the insolent stare, while his friends 
seemed uncertain whether to be most amused or 
ashamed. At last a burst of laughter broke from 
him, but for only a second; the next, Cyrus had 
thrown off Charles Stuart’s restraining hand, 
levelled one well-aimed blow, and his Lordship’s 


38 


The Griffins 


heels were higher than his head and his becoming 
glasses shattered ! 

A short silence followed, and before he could 
recover from his humiliating situation, the Baron 
of Wolverton and Mr. Horace Walpole entered. 
From Cyrus’ position, his clenched fist, and still 
flashing eye, they arrived at once at a partial solu- 
tion of the affair, and with some displeasure in his 
tone the Baron said : 

“What, Mr. Griffin, not yet three months in 
Condon, and engaged in a scene like this?” 

“ ’Tis true, sir. This ‘ gentleman ’ has seen fit to 
insult me, and refused to apologize; therefore I 
was forced to avenge myself in the only way 
opened to me.” 

While Charles Stuart was explaining the matter 
to Horace Walpole, Cyrus gave the Baron a short 
account of it. He was sober enough now and was 
not unprepared to hear the Baron reply rather 
gloomily : 

“The only end of it all must be a duel, for a blow 
given is a mortal insult, no matter what the provo- 
cation.” 

To which conclusion Lord Ashton’s friends had 
also arrived, and that nobleman having long ere 
this regained an upright position and his usual 
sangfroid ', requested one of them “to arrange mat- 
ters for him,” and left the room. Charles Stuart 
acted for Cyrus, and he soon found his way to his 
lodgings, there to await his friend, who would 


The Griffins 


39 


come to inform him of the time and place of meet- 
ing. He spent a night of bitter, anxious thought. 
He had but acted in accordance with the natural 
impulse a brave, true man must feel to resent a 
wanton insult; and yet, where rumor was so busy 
and so false, how would his father learn the truth 
until letters reached him, which would probably not 
be until after the public prints had done their work. 
And the mother, whose teaching had ever been of 
“peace and good-will,” how would she feel as she 
read of her son’s quarrel in a public coffee-house? 
while anxiety as to his subsequent safety would 
well-nigh make her ill. This brought before him 
the probable result, for my Lord Ashton’s ball 
usually hit no less surely than his last words had 
done. It was difficult to realize this as the end of 
all the bright hopes and ambitions with which he 
had left Virginia — so short a time ago, it seemed, 
in looking back. He would not waken Raleigh, 
and was sincerely thankful that Samuel was so far 
away; yet, in the utter lack of all human sym- 
pathy, the brave young fellow bowed his head upon 
his hands and wept as he had not done since his 
mother was wont to wipe away all childish tears. 

It was a relief to his overburdened spirit, and 
ere very long he was enabled to look all calmly in 
the face, and having offered up a prayer to God, 
who watched over him in the midst of the whirl 
and temptations of London, no less than in the 


40 


The Griffins 


quiet country home, he slept until Raleigh waked 
him next morning, saying : 

“Mr. Stuart is waiting in de sitting-room to see 
you, sah.” 

Mr. Stuart told him that the next day at sunrise, 
in a thicket about a quarter of a mile from the 
river, on the opposite bank, Lord Ashton would 
meet him. 

“We will not attend at the Temple to-day,” he 
continued, “for neither you nor I is fit for it.” 

So they determined to go to Richmond Hill for 
the morning, and when Traquair left him at night- 
fall, with the promise to meet him at Charing- 
Cross an hour before sunrise, Cyrus was very calm, 
comparatively, and afterwards obtained some 
much-needed rest. I say comparatively calm, for I 
do not believe any man who has not more of the 
brute than the human in his nature can face cold 
steel or iron without some emotion; however, 
Cyrus wrote letters to his parents and brothers, 
and when Traquair met him next morning he was 
the more composed of the two, for Charles Stuart 
knew Lord Ashton to be a fine shot, and that he 
was not one who would be inclined to consider the 
youth and inexperience of his antagonist. 

Raleigh heard his master moving at this very 
early hour, and though he wondered much thereat, 
yet, not until he heard footsteps on the stair and 
then the door of the hall closed, did he determine 
to find out what was the cause of it all. A few 


The Griffins 


4i 


minutes later he found his master’s room empty, 
and going out reached Charing-Cross just in time 
to see Mr. Stuart and Cyrus drive off in a hackney- 
coach together toward the great Bridge. He felt 
instinctively that something was wrong, and 
impelled by curiosity, but still more by a sense of 
responsibility in watching over his young master’s 
safety, he also took a coach, and proceeding in the 
same direction, arrived where the first had stopped. 
He saw Cyrus a hundred yards off shake hands 
with a gentleman, and then walking away from 
him take his stand some ten paces back. While 
Raleigh was moving breathlessly toward them he 
heard “One,. two, three!” ring out upon the clear 
morning air, and when he had almost touched 
his master's arm, whizz! came his Lordship’s ball, 
grazing Cyrus’ side very closely, so that his lace 
pocket was torn, and burying itself in Raleigh’s 
outstretched arm as he exclaimed : 

“Oh, Mars Cyrus ! I tried ter call from de woods 
which hid me, but my tongue was pa’alyzed, an’ 
only my feet could mobe w’en I see dat gent’man 
tryin’ to kill yo’ ; but now I’se foun’ my tongue an’ 
I begs yo’ ter quit dis bloody wuk.” 

All of the master’s anxiety was now for his ser- 
vant, and the surgeon was promptly called, who 
pronounced it only a flesh wound, which with care 
would soon heal. The poor fellow said : 

“ ’Tis on’y a scratch, sah ! but er quarter of an 
inch nearer an’ yo’ would hab been kilt, an’ how 


42 


The Griffins 


could I ebber hab tol’ my master an’ missus dat I 
saw you kilt an’ couldn’t stop hit?” 

Raleigh’s wound had perhaps saved his master’s 
life, for it put an end to the duel, as his Lordship 
was somewhat touched, and recalled his words, 
declaring that “even the negroes were not savage 
in the Colony of Virginia;” and he added, “I am 
almost glad that that last glass was a little too 
much for me, and made my hand unsteady; else 
would that young flint-box have been laid low, 
never to rise again.” 

His second being satisfied, the duel was declared 
ended. The account of this duel and its very 
unique result was soon made known, and much 
talked of in the London world. Shortly after a 
ball was given by Mr. Horace Walpole at his beau- 
tiful home, “Strawberry Hill.” Thither repaired 
our young Virginian and Charles Stuart, and 
Cyrus found himself not less popular for having 
fought. Standing near a pleasant Frenchwoman, 
to whom he had been presented on some former 
occasion, she extended her hand to him, saying : 

“I am right glad to talk with Monsieur Griffin. 
Will he be kind enough to tell me something of the 
American women he holds in such high esteem 
that he will adventure his life for their fair name, 
even like the knights of the olden time?” 

“Certainly, madame, if it be your pleasure to 
listen. Albeit I know but few besides the women 
of our own home-circle in Williamsburg, yet at my 


The Griffins 


43 


Lord Governor’s ball saw I many fair dames whose 
beauty is not surpassed in all this brilliant com- 
pany, withal they are very graceful. Yet, me- 
thinks there is perhaps more stateliness of manner 
among the English women in a large assembly 
such as this, for they have many more opportuni- 
ties of acquiring it. Our colony resembles Eng- 
land as a child resembles its mother. And as a 
child’s nature is more simple and its intelligence 
and refinement less developed than an adult’s, so 
our colony has not yet cultivated all of the con- 
ventionalities which are here considered elegances. 
Yet we have much entertainment in Williamsburg, 
because of the petty court which the Lord Gover- 
nor holds with due pomp and ceremony, thereby 
giving a slight touch of royalty to the social life at 
the capital. He was pleased to say of my lady 
mother ‘that her manners were all that would be 
required at St. James.’ ”* 

“I like to hear of madame, your mother, but tell 
me now of your jeunes titles; are they very charm- 
ing? or are they careless of their complexions and 
of their beauties, and do they grow stout like the 
English women ?” 

“Ah ! madame, my brother Samuel should be 
here, for he can better speak on this subject than I, 
as he has a happy way of blending the study of the 
fair sex with that of the classics. My cousins have 

*This was said of Abigail Smith, Mrs. John Adams, of Mas- 
sachusetts. 


44 


The Griffins 


right rosy cheeks and pearly teeth. Perhaps some 
of them may have profited by reading your valu- 
able French treatises on the subject of female 
beauty and its preservation. Yet methinks one 
can wish no goodlier sight than yon fair girl stand- 
ing just opposite and surrounded by a coterie of 
admirers. Will you tell me now of some of Lon- 
don's beauties ?” 

“The tall, fair girl you speak of is Miss Town- 
shend, a cousin of our host ; she is very pretty and 
her robe and coiffure are in excellent taste. Shall 
I present you to her? Lady Bunbury is also hand- 
some ; she was the Lady Sarah Lenox, whom the 
King would have asked to marry him, if he had not 
been King; and the Lady Lucy Darcy is a fresh, 
sweet rosebud. Come, mon ami , you must know 
some of these.” 

“Thanks, madame,” said Cyrus ; and giving his 
arm to the marchioness they crossed the room, 
and she presented him to the beautiful girl whose 
appearance had attracted his attention when he 
first entered. 

“I am glad to meet you, Mr. Griffin,” she said 
with charming frankness of manner. “I wish 
to thank you for the good lesson you have taught 
my cousin, Lord Ashton. He is not altogether 
bad, but he has been much spoiled by flattery and 
fawning since he attained his majority and his 
wealth. I fear we women are ourselves somewhat 
responsible for the light way in which your sex too 


The Griffins 


45 


often regard us. We pay court to rank and value 
too much the little attentions paid us by titled 
men, and thus they presume that they are indis- 
pensable to us, and that we are placed in society to 
be danced with, jested with, flirted with, and then 
made the theme of some rude wit which it is 
thought will never be heard of by us. Curiously 
enough, too, these same men would be quick to 
resent aught said against the special objects of their 
own care or love ; yet cannot realize the real cow- 
ardice they are guilty of in not regarding all good 
women with chivalrous respect.” 

‘'You gave the true solution of this state of 
things when you commenced speaking,” said the 
Baron of Wolverton, who had joined the group. 
“There is too great eagerness on the part of 
mothers to form marriages of rank and wealth for 
their daughters ; and when mothers make market- 
able wares of their fair young maidens, our noble- 
men and gentlemen fall into the very vulgar fash- 
ion which you so justly condemn.” Here he 
offered his arm to the marchioness, and bowing to 
Miss Townshend, left Cyrus in undisturbed posses- 
sion for the brief space of five minutes. Then her 
hand was claimed for the dance, and Charles Stuart 
having joined him, he told him of his reception by 
Miss Townshend and of the sentiments she had 
expressed. 

“No one ever speaks of her save with respect,” 
said Traquair ; “she has won the admiration of all 


46 


The Griffins 


by her constancy to young Howard, the cousin of 
my Lord Castletree, and heir presumptive to his 
estates until last year, when his lady, most unex- 
pectedly to the world, presented him with a son. 
Until that time it was always intended that 
Howard and Miss Townshend should marry, and 
all were glad that my Lord had no children and 
that his rent roll of ten thousand pounds per an- 
num would in the end fall to Howard, but when 
this was changed many objections to him were 
found. Yet Miss Townshend stands firm in her 
love and trust, and I do not doubt they will be 
married ere long. But we are both needed now to 
act as cavaliers to some fair ones to the saloon, 
where we will see the beautiful collection of an- 
tiques, vertu, porcelain, etc., for which this house 
is famed. No one would come here without mak- 
ing a tour of inspection. There is the Lady Lucy 
Darcy, with her mother. I bequeath them to you, 
and will look for some less fortunate who will take 
me for lack of a better escort.” 

So saying he left Cyrus, who asked permission 
to accompany the two ladies to the adjoining 
room, where Walpole’s famous collection was to 
be seen. He enjoyed very much the bright chat- 
ter of the fresh young girl just from the school- 
room, but who was somewhat more accomplished 
than many women of the period. He thus learned 
by degrees something of the different phases of 
life a la mode , and saw it had many very distinctly 


The Griffins 


47 


defined elements in its composition. Just as there 
is great variety in every landscape, although at 
first we only notice the whole scene spread out 
before us; then gradually we see the light and 
shade, each striving as it were for mastery, but 
neither giving way to the other entirely. Were 
it not so, how much of beauty would be lost ! All 
sunshine would bring each barren rock and hillside 
into too bold relief ; all shade would hide the val- 
leys from our view. “A hundred years since” 
society had, as it has now, its good and evil, its 
lights and shadows ; the shadows haply hide much, 
the lights show us many noble deeds performed by 
men and women whose lives, guided by the only 
Perfect Man, may in the end pervade even the 
darkness of crime and cause it to disappear. 

And if Cyrus did not pass through the ordeal 
entirely unscathed, if he at times played too 
heavily at cards or lingered too long over the wine- 
cup, yet he offended in these points but rarely, for 
the mother was praying at home and the son was 
conscious of her influence; so that if temptation 
proved strong, “consideration, like an angel, came 
and whipped the offending Adam out of him.” So 
the height of the season was passed, and soon Tra- 
quair was going to Scotland for a vacation, and 
Cyrus would join Samuel at Oxford, from whence 
they would start for a tour among the Welsh Hills. 


CHAPTER V. 


Tells of Oxford’s Classic Shades and of a Certain Eng- 
lish Clergyman and his Fair Daughter, 
"Mistress Dolly Braxton." 

“Maiden in whose deep brown eyes many a light and shadow lies.” 

While Cyrus had thus studied law and London, 
Samuel was busy with his classical studies at 
Oxford. The Baron of Wolverton had given him 
several letters of introduction, and among them 
one to a Reverend Dr. Braxton, in whose house, of 
true refinement and simple manners, Samuel spent 
many of his leisure hours, giving as reason for so 
doing that “The learning of the Doctor was very 
great, and he had so fine a library.” To which his 
college “chum” made reply, “And withal he has 
so winsome a daughter ; and we are left many eve- 
nings when we are having such merry times be- 
cause of the Doctor’s ‘library,’ alias his daughter .” 
To which raillery Samuel would sometimes yield 
and have his share of the merriment and wake up 
with a headache next morning, but recover from it 
ere very long and return to his studies, which were 
not very difficult, because of his innate love for 
them. Life at Oxford was certainly delightful. To 
the student it presented rare opportunities ; to the 
so-called student many pleasures such as only uni- 
versity life can give ; and to the churchman much 


The Griffins 


49 


to foster love for the faith for which men had there 
been martyred. 

Dr. Braxton felt that life was a rich boon to him, 
as with wife, children, and friends, a comfortable 
living, and a hope far above and beyond all of 
these, he kept the even tenor of his way and had 
open heart and home for young and old, rich and 
poor, high and low. We cannot wonder that 
Samuel and many other students found themselves 
often in the fine “library” with the Doctor, or in 
the drawing-room with “Mistress” Dolly Braxton 
and her mother; and that the five months Samuel 
had spent there had sped away “on the wings of 
the wind.” In August, Cyrus joined him, and was 
cordially welcomed at “Hazeldean Parsonage.” 

“When will you start on your Welsh tour, Mr. 
Griffin ?” said the Doctor to Samuel a few evenings 
after Cyrus arrived. 

“On Thursday, sir,” replied Samuel, “for we 
wish to be in Llandaff on Sunday.” 

“And may I ask why you prefer Wales to Scot- 
land? Both have great natural beauties, cer- 
tainly; indeed, that may be said of each portion of 
Great Britain. ’Tis a land wondrously favored by 
nature, and this has made her great in science, arts 
and letters, for nature is their mother. But to the 
American, Scotland would seem to be naturally 
very attractive because of its historical associa- 
tions, while Wales is not well known even to us 
who live so near its borders?” 


4 


50 


The Griffins 


“We have developed some poetic feeling in the 
colonies, sir,” Cyrus laughingly replied, “and it is 
this which makes us prefer Wales this summer; 
for Samuel’s ‘poetic’ nature makes him long to 
search out all the legendary lore connected with 
‘the Griffins’ or ‘Griffiths’ of by-gone ages.” 

“I might have known some such romantic 
motive led you to its wilds and mountain fast- 
nesses ; you will find it a land rich in treasures of 
song and story.” 

On Thursday they left, and Samuel sent a knot 
of red ribbons to Mistress Dolly Braxton and 
hoped she would sometimes wear them “in her 
bonnie brown hair.” 

First through the beautiful Berkshire country, 
then along down the Severn’s sedgy banks they 
glided, and reached Llandaff on Saturday evening. 
They established their headquarters there, and 
made plans for many excursions over the hills, 
on the swift little “Merlin” ponies so far as they 
could have sure footing, and trusting to the aid of 
stout sticks, strong sinews, and steady nerve for 
the rest of the steep ascents. Tide-water Virginia 
is a very flat country, and the Welsh Mountains 
were the first our travelers had ever seen, as they 
loomed up before them in their sublime and awful 
beauty on this Sunday morning, and the charm did 
not lessen as they grew more accustomed to the 
sight. They loved to wander among the peaks 
for hours, and throwing the reins to their servants 
they would toil up the mountain’s side, and reach- 


The Griffins 


5i 


in g the top breathe a purer, freer atmosphere than 
in the valleys below, the while gaining strength in 
body and soul and spirit. Around them, far and 
wide, they saw other mountain ranges, and in the 
valleys lying between were gently-flowing streams 
and placid lakes, mirrors set in frames of emerald 
green, upon which the sheep were browsing, think- 
ing naught of the shearers’ scissors or the knife. 
Then, looking up, the clouds seemed almost to 
touch the earth, and would break into fragments 
and float in pure white ether down the mountain’s 
slope until they vanished into nothingness. 

Sometimes, seated on the top-most rock with 
which each mountain seemed to be capped, they 
would stay for hours reading the legends of the 
bards who for centuries past had expressed in the 
strength of their native tongue the brave deeds of 
their sires and their love for their fatherland. One 
evening they sought refuge from a storm in a 
shepherd’s cottage; and when he knew the inter- 
est they felt in these wild songs, he offered to 
recite to them one which told of Llewellyn ap Grif- 
fith, and when they had given ready assent he 
closed his eyes, remained silent a few moments, 
then broke out into the following : 

“Legend of the Vision of Llewellyn ap Griffith.” 

“In the long, long ago, in the days of ap Griffith, 

When the Saxon King Harold ruled Britain’s proud realm, 
Our King sat unheeding and heard not the thunder, 

For sad were his thoughts and his soul all unbending 
As he pictured his home far away on the mountains 
And his two fair young eaglets in eyrie so free. 


52 The Griffins 

Should the proud Saxon cage them and end their wild soar- 
ings, . . . ^ 

And he their brave sire, too, in captivity die? 

Firm resolve came upon him, and a fierce oath then made he, 
That ere the next sunset had lowered on the land, 

Himself, or King Harold, in Death’s grasp should lie. 

“Then sleep fell upon him, and a bright vision glorious, 

From the great Spirit world, came and spoke to him thus : 
‘Fear not thou, Llewellyn, though traitorous minions 
Shall yield up thy fortress and give thee to death, 

Yet in far distant lands shall thy sons honored be 
When those who betray thee and he who will conquer 
Will all by the Norman’s brave legions lie slain. 

May peace rest now with thee; to-morrow will bear thee 
In spirit away from the scene of this strife. 

What matters it, then, though thy body be headless? 

Thy soul shall be crowned with glory and light.’ 

“E’en so, on the morrow the murderers came near, 

And smote from his body his grand kingly head, 

And sent it to Harold, who blushed for their treason, 

And buried it sadly, with meet honors due him 
Whom in life he had fought with the hope of subduing 
In fair fight between them, not by dastardly crime. 

And he said, ‘Though the Saxon should seize on the country,’ 
That the two fair young boys still in freedom should live, 

So comes it to pass, that a legion of Griffiths 

Have sprung from these offshoots of famous Llewellyn. 

While the shepherd recited these lines with a 
gentle, swaying motion of his body, the measured 
cadence of his voice and soft Celtic accent made a 
richness of sound which it is impossible to de- 
scribe. 

The weeks passed away, and at last Caernarvon 
was reached, and they lingered some time near it 
and heard stories from the peasantry of all that 
Cromwell's soldiers did in their country; but one 
of the great Edward I interested them far more, as 


The Griffins 


53 

told them by a guide who went with them through 
the ruins of the Castle. 

‘‘The great Edward of England was a most 
crafty Prince; and he devised a skilful plan by 
which he gained the consent of the Welsh kings 
to be governed by England. ‘No prince who 
speaks an English word shall e’er have dominion 
over us,’ said they. 

“ ‘It shall be so, my friends,’ the King replied. 
‘I will give you a prince to rule over you who 
speaks no word of English.’ So saying, he brought 
the little baby prince before them, who was too 
young to speak at all, and added, ‘Ye see a native 
Prince of Caernarvon who knows no English ; even 
he shall rule you, and be called Prince of Wales.’ ” 

October came all too quickly, and they were 
reluctantly compelled to retrace their steps and 
commence another term of nine or ten months of 
study, which for Cyrus would be lightened by the 
many amusements London afforded, and to 
Samuel by the pleasure study gave him and the 
society of the Reverend Doctor and his wife and 
Mistress Dolly Braxton, of whom his “chum” 
said : 

“She has not mourned deeply for you, Griffin; 
or at least she has not been made less rosy thereby, 
for never have I seen her look quite so bewitching 
as she did at church the Sunday after you left ; and 
since then she has lost nothing, I think.” 

To make sure of which, Master Samuel was not 


54 


The Griffins 


long in finding opportunity; and repairing to the 
rectory, one cold November afternoon, espied Mis- 
tress Dolly, with scarlet cloak and hood, and a 
basket in her hand, coming from the opposite 
direction, where lived several poor families of her 
father’s parish. Very like a Red Riding-hood she 
looked, and Samuel determined to play the Wolf 
and reach her father’s gate before she did in order 
that he might waylay her. ’Twas very justifiable, 
for “a hundred years since,” in the quiet vicarage, 
young maidens were very carefully guarded, and 
but few opportunities were afforded for the preda- 
tory visits of the smart university men who sought 
to obtain them. 

So Master Wolf quickens his pace, and extends 
his walk some few yards beyond the gate before he 
meets with Red Riding-hood; and quoth he, in a 
pleading, lamb-like voice : 

“Good-evening, Mistress Dolly; may I carry 
your heavy basket for you to the rectory? I am 
on my way to see your father with reference to a 
certain disputed sentence in one of Cicero’s ora- 
tions against Catiline.” 

Now, Red Riding-hood had carried the pannier 
filled with but little difficulty, yet she kindly 
thanked him and resigned the now empty basket 
to his keeping, as if it were a relief to have a great 
burden taken from her, and Master Wolf no doubt 
found it very heavy, which was the reason he 
walked so slowly by her side to the house, and did 


The Griffins 


55 


not speak in a very loud tone as he talked with but 
little intermission, until they reached the hall door 
and he entered with her. His very sharp (wolfish) 
eyes took note of the fact that she wore a red knot 
of ribbon in her hair at tea, and as he thought upon 
it that night after having translated the puzzling 
sentence, he did not bear any wolfish resemblance, 
but was a very attractive, clever boy, who was 
studying from a book which caused him pleasure 
if one might judge from the happy smile which 
lit up his face; and he went to sleep and dreamed 
that instead of the wolf devouring Red Riding- 
hood, she transformed him into a very loving 
young fellow. 

And while Samuel studied the classics and some 
fairy tales, and Cyrus was busy at the law, they 
received letters from home telling them that Cor- 
bin had returned some months from Canada, and 
wrote of a matter of “deep personal interest.” 

“When you return, you will find me, established 
at Rippon Hall I hope, and you will not wonder 
that I am going to leave the dear old home of my 
parents for one of my own, (inherited from my 
mother), when I make known to you a secret, 
which has been mine only since I came back some 
three months ago. This momentous secret is — 
that Miss Berkeley — the younger of the two sisters 
who were visiting in Williamsburg, has promised 
to share that home with me, — so when you come 
back you will find one need filled which we three 


56 


The Griffins 


have often spoken of as a lack of completeness in 
our lives — and as a sister I believe she will be no 
less affectionate and admirable, than I have good 
cause to think she will ever be to me as a wife. I 
am very, very happy, and the parents on each side 
have naught but pleasant things to say of our 
engagement, so thus far we have proved Mr. Wm. 
Shakespeare wrong, and our course of true love 
is running very smooth, I trust it may always so 
continue. Pursue your studies with all diligence, 
for we miss you at home and I have to play three 
parts in one during your absence, which under any 
circumstances would be a difficult task, and is ren- 
dered more so, because now one, other party 
claims me as belonging by exclusive right of pos- 
session to her ; and I am only too happy to recog- 
nize her claims. Good-bye now, as I cannot write 
longer to-day. Your affect, brother, 

“Corbin Griffin 

“To Messrs. Samuel and Cyrus Griffin (students).” 

During this term nothing occurred to interrupt 
their course of studies, for there was a period of 
comparative rest in the colonies. Mr. Henry had 
returned to the bar, although still a member of the 
Burgesses, and his matchless eloquence was for 
once displaying itself before juries rather than to 
the popular mind and feeling; and Cyrus was all 
the more ready to throw law aside when the hot 
months came, now that Virginia wpuld not per- 


The Griffins 


57 


haps need the service of her sons so soon as had 
been at one time anticipated. Charles Stuart 
wished Samuel and Cyrus both to visit him at his 
father’s fine old castle in Peebles, and in August 
Cyrus wrote to his brother of the invitation which 
bad been extended to them, and added “that he 
seconded Traquair’s wish very warmly, for Lon- 
don was dull, and all the gay world at Tunbridge, 
Bath, or country-houses of the noblemen and 
gentry;” which “gay world” being of very small 
account to Mr. Samuel in the comparative seclu- 
sion of his Oxford life, it is quite probable its 
movements would not have affected him and that 
he would have postponed joining Cyrus until later, 
but going on one of his visits to the rectory and 
seeing Mrs. Braxton at work on a very pretty 
little traveling-bag of white linen lined with crim- 
son, he remarked that “Red is a favorite color 
with me, and is especially becoming to Mistress 
Dolly.” 

And Mrs. Braxton replied, “Yes, and for that 
reason I have chosen it as a suitable lining for her 
traveling-bag, for Dolly is to go very soon on a 
visit to Lady Bunbury, her cousin.” 

To which Samuel, with some assumed careless- 
ness of manner, made answer, “I am very glad that 
Mistress Dolly will have so fine a time, as I have 
heard the Lady Bunbury provides well for all of 
her guests.” distress Dolly herself, the mother 


58 


The Griffins 


had told him, “had ever been a great favorite with 
her Ladyship since she was a toddling child.” 

To this interview may be ascribed the fact that 
Samuel wrote to Cyrus of his great willingness to 
accompany him to Scotland in a very short time, 
where “we will stay,” he said, “until I am obliged 
to come back to study, etc., from which I long to 
be at rest for at least a while.” 

Cyrus marveled much at this; nevertheless, he 
was heartily glad that his brother would for once 
acknowledge that books wearied him, so he made 
all ready for the proposed visit to Traquair Castle. 


CHAPTER VI. 


In Which our Young Virginians Visit Traquair Castle. 

“Caledonia, stern and wild, meet nurse for a poetic child.” 

The second week in August, Traquair and his 
friends left the noise and heat of Eondon far be- 
hind them, and arrived two days later on the Scot- 
tish border, from which a few hours of easy riding 
would bring them to Traquair Castle in Peebles. 
It was a fine old Norman structure, enclosing 
within its four stone walls a courtyard some sixty 
feet square. Turrets capped each corner of the 
building, while from the centre of the front wall a 
high iron gateway marked the spot where the port- 
cullis had formerly been. The drawbridge had 
been replaced by a light iron structure, and the 
moat was now dry, forming with its banks a 
meadow of grass most pleasing to the eye. An 
air of peace and serenity was over all as the three 
travelers, from a turn in the road, came in sight of 
the Tweed Valley, in which the old castle stood. 
The ride along the banks of the rippling stream 
soon brought them to the gateway, where a 
warder stood, clad in the livery of peaceful times, 
a combination of the Tartan and the more modern 
servingman’s costume. In the courtyards, ser- 
vants in the same livery took charge of their 
horses, and at the inner doorway his Lordship’s 


6o 


The Griffins 


body-servant ushered them from the hall entrance 
to the room of state, saying : 

“We are all highly pleased to have you at home 
once more, Master Charles. His Lordship and 
the young ladies are just in here, sir/’ As he 
opened the door, the Earl came forward to meet 
them, and bade his son welcome, saying : 

“My boy, I am right glad you have corne back 
to your home and to your old father.” Then while 
he gave a warm greeting to the young Virginians, 
Charles found himself being caressed most lov- 
ingly by a fair young girl of seventeen summers, 
while a childish, wee thing clung to him with such 
a grasp as only children’s arms can give; after a 
minute or two he was released and permitted to 
present his guests to — 

“My sister, Lady Christine Stuart, and the little 
Lady Louise — in truth, a most diminutive speci- 
men of a ladyship. But, Chrissy, when did you 
come from St. Omers? I thought you were still 
there a school-girl, and here I behold a very fine 
young woman.” 

“We thought it would be such fun to s’p’ise 
you, Charley,” put in little Louise before her sister 
could reply, “so I begged Chrissy not to write, and 
here she is a tall, grown-up girl, and you didn’t 
know anything about it at all ; and I have so much 
to tell you about her since she came home;” but 
here the little mouth was stopped by a kiss from 
her big brother. 


The Griffins 


61 


The architecture of the large, finely-propor- 
tioned room or hall in which they had been re- 
ceived was the Norman-Gothic so well adapted to 
the country. The walls and ceiling were of oak, 
and the heavily-fretted cornice of the same wood 
was carved in different designs, a horse-shoe being 
conspicuous above the rest and carved in the cen- 
ter of each of the four walls. These were hung 
with trophies of the chase and specimens of an- 
cient armor; while between them and the cornice 
were carved the names and armorial bearings of 
each earl from the first John Stuart down to the 
present lord. He was a noble type of that race 
of men of whom Sir Walter Scott has truly said, 
“No man of the present day can be otherwise than 
proud to own them as grandsires.” He had taken 
an active part “In the ’45,” and had again been 
ready to fight if need be for his lawful sovereign 
and kinsman. Now, all hope of the restoration 
of the Stuarts was passed; yet, his Lordship 
chafed inwardly at the Hanoverian yoke. 

“A German Prince to rule over free-born 
Scotchmen. ’Tis enough to make the great Bruce 
arise from his tomb,” he would say. “Jamie was 
a Scotchman, and this king is his great-great- 
great-grandson, yet methinks one would never 
recognize aught but the Hanoverian in his speech 
or manners. ’Tis indeed a mystery that virtues 
descend not so readily as vices do. Nor have phi- 
losophers yet been able to explain the fact that 


62 


The Griffins 


great men have so few great descendants. What 
became of the Black Prince’s blood, that his great- 
ness failed to appear in his son Richard, and our 
Bruce had but a sorry successor in King Robert 
II. Yet the vices which the Duke of Rothsay 
showed so soon after his grandfather are seen 
to-day in the remotest royal descendant of Robert 
I, that great King and gentleman. One may in- 
deed be the first, and fall far short of being the 
second , sir.” 

The Earl would frequently talk in this manner 
to the younger folks around him, and discourse to 
them of long-past times, of scenes of war and 
blood-shed, inciting in them a spirit of daring and 
enterprise. 

It generally fell to Cyrus’ lot to be the escort 
of Lady Christine over the hills and through the 
glens in the long rides which occupied a portion of 
nearly every day. She had come home from St. 
Omers most unexpectedly because of an epidemic 
which had broken up the school, else it is doubtful 
whether the Earl would have invited young 
strangers to his castle, who would necessarily be 
thrown in daily intercourse with his fair young 
daughter ; but now the evil was done ’twas well to 
make the best of it, so the young people were left 
much to their own devices for amusement. 

“In truth,” the Earl said to Charles, “I like your 
young friends right well. They are intelligent and 
polished gentlemen, and the name is of great an- 


The Griffins 


63 


tiquity in Wales; while the device — the Griffin — 
has been adopted by half the noble houses as a 
fitting emblem of rapidity in movement and 
strength in execution/’ 

So passed the days away, and in the evenings 
they would all gather in the great hall, and often 
some tale of “how the Knights defended the Bor- 
der” would be recited by an old battle-seamed re- 
tainer of the house; and again wild Highland le- 
gends would while away the hours. One evening, 
while they were sitting around the oaken table, 
with tankards of ale, listening to old Fergus relate 
the story of “Brave MacDhu and Clan Ronald the 
dauntless,” they were startled by a loud knock at 
the postern, and shortly after the shuffling of feet 
near the door of the hall. Charles went out at 
once to discover the cause of the unusual disturb- 
ance, and by the aid of a lantern saw no greater a 
person than little Peter Shrimple, a deacon of the 
adjoining kirk, who sought protection from a rap- 
idly-rising storm within Traquair’s hospitable 
doors. “In faith, my young Lord, sairly do I fear 
the darkness, and knowing weel your Lordship’s 
persuasion to be of the papacy, yet mak’ I bold to 
claim shelter for the night at your hands, for nane 
is e’er turned awa’ from this hoose, I hear.” 

“Rest in peace,” good Peter, said Charles, as he 
returned to the hall and told the poor fellow’s 
plight to. his father. 

“He says truly,” replied the Earl; “none e’er 


64 


The Griffins 


sought shelter in these old walls and was refused ; 
why once e’en did we save the life of that sleuth- 
hound Gilbert. It was in ’45, when the Prince 
Charles Edward fought in vain for his crown. He 
was hidden in safety, and we were ourselves keep- 
ing quiet, when Gilbert and his pack came to 
search the castle and demanded the keys of old 
Fergus there, who was warder; well, Fergus knew 
that the King, myself, and the treasure were all 
safe, so without much resistance he handed over 
the keys. After making vain search, Gilbert re- 
turned them with an oath, and would have ridden 
away, but he saw the castle all surrounded with 
King Charles’ men under the trusty MacDonald. 

“ ‘We seek only Gilbert, he who has tracked our 
liege sovereign; the others may go,’ said their 
leader. 

“Now Fergus — albeit it seemed an act of folly — 
thought shame to let a foe be taken in a snare like 
a bird, so he quickly opened yon sliding panel and 
thrust Gilbert into space behind. A sore fright he 
gave him, for he told him if he did not then give up 
his commission he would deliver him over to Mac- 
Donald, and the bully and braggart e’en gave it 
up to him, and so he had no more authority in 
King George’s name to harm our people. Then 
when all was quiet Fergus took him in safety away 
from Peebles, but so sore was his fright that he 
never showed his face here again, and Fergus did 


The Griffins 65 

more good to the country by ridding it of such a 
pest than if he had slain six men in battle.” 

“Samuel,” said Cyrus, when they were alone, 
“truly we have come into a home where friend and 
foe alike are sure of fair play, and the laws of hos- 
pitality are only exceeded by the love for the 
Church and the Stuarts. The women even lead 
the men in these matters, and the Lady Christine 
is more zealous a papist than Charles himself, or 
even the Earl. You should see her eyes glow as 
I tell Dr. Mercer’s story.” 

“Take care she does not lead you away from our 
Mother Church, brother mine,” replied Samuel. 
“Her eyes may well cast a glamour over your spir- 
itual vision, albeit you have been well trained in 
the true faith.” 

Six or eight weeks were spent at Traquair 
Castle, and tales of Rob Roy and the MacGregors 
were to be heard everywhere in the vicinity. And 
fain would they have lingered in this land, which 
they found no less rich than Wales in historic and 
minstrel lore; but they must be off to Edinboro> 
so with many regrets they turned their faces south- 
ward at last, and Cyrus for the first time felt that 
there was a remote possibility that he was not 
armed in proof, but might sooner or later find a vul- 
nerable point in his armor. 

Christine wrote to her aunt in Edinboro : 

“You will see this brave young gentleman, and 
will not wonder that my brother has formed so 


5 


66 


The Griffins 


warm a friendship for him. My father e'en looks 
upon him with much favour, and pronounces him 
accomplished and learned for his age. (Mr. Sam- 
uel Griffin is very polished, and yet I like Cyrus 
better.) He is tall and handsome I think, and as 
my father tells some tale of lofty daring his eyes 
flash, and he seems all aglow with enthusiasm.” 

As the Lady Louisa Stuart Campbell folded this 
letter she soliloquized: “And so you, my fair 
niece, forsooth took note of the young stranger? 
Go back to St. Omers, my child, and forget all the 
tales of war and romance, and learn wisdom, and 
faith, and love and reverence for our holy Mother 
the Church.” 

Instead of Chrissy doing this, she stayed at Tra- 
quair, and in her prayers for all “Jews, Turks, infi- 
dels, and heretics,” she remembered Mr. Cyrus 
Griffin, and to satisfy all scruples as to making her 
prayers personal, she added the name of his 
brother Samuel. 

The Lady Louisa Stuart Campbell was not dis- 
appointed when she me her nephew’s friends. 
She went with them to the many places of interest 
in the beautiful old city, and only declined the as- 
cent to the top of Arthur’s seat, pleading in excuse 
“that sixty years made it too wearisome.” At 
Holyrood she told them how the young Pretender 
had danced so gayly there before the battle of 
Culloden, and then had slept in the illstarred cham- 
ber through which Rizzio’s body had been 


The Griffins 


67 


dragged ; she went with them to the top of Calton 
Hill, from which they could see across the Frith 
into Fifeshire, and told them how many glad ar- 
rivals and sad departures had taken place on the 
shores they were gazing at, from the time “the 
storm bore the first Matilda to be a blessing to 
the land, until Charles Edward in ’53 stood for the 
last time on Scottish soil.” Then she added : 

“I know right well how loyal your colony was to 
his most sacred Majesty Charles II ; so I speak to 
you thus of the last King Charles, who wandered 
about in deserts and caves of the earth.” 

But time would fail to tell of the manifold stories 
connected with every portion of Scotland’s capital. 
In all mountainous countries more of romance 
lingers than in the lowlands. It is bound in by the 
vast hills and cannot escape from them ; and after 
this highland tour of only two months was over, 
it was like a sudden descent from the land of fancy 
to that of prose to settle down to books again. 
But so it had to be, and Cyrus and Traquair went 
bravely to work, while Samuel went to his tasks 
with light heart and active brain, for his “chum” 
told him confidentially : 

“For once I have been mistaken. Mistress 
Dolly has not been caught yet, and she is coming 
home at X-mas without yielding to any of the suits 
made by titled or untitled gentry.” 

So he went to the rectory and learned to his 
further satisfaction that, “It is the last visit Dolly 


68 


The Griffins 


will make for a long, long time to come ; a little 
excitement is very good for all young folks, but 
too much of it is ruinous ; and,” added the Vicar, 
“I would not have my Dolly spoiled, sir, for all the 
fine speeches we hear made about her. They say 
she has more charm of manner now that she has 
seen a little of the world, but she suited us at home 
very well as she was, and I only pray she may come 
with the same fresh young heart she carried away.” 

All doubt on this point was set at rest when on 
X-mas eve the old coach drew up to the rectory 
gate and Dolly alighted without aid, and meeting 
her father and mother — with out-stretched arms 
ready to receive her — nestled closely to them as a 
little bird who has found its nest. 

The father was quite sure that she was not 
spoiled by the tinsel and the fine things she had 
seen, and never questioned that it was only the 
home and home folk that formed her chief joy; 
but the mother’s eye had somewhat deeper insight, 
and she knew that if her motive had been to separ- 
ate the two young folks whom she saw were be- 
coming all in all to each other, that with Dolly at 
least the plan had failed. 


CHAPTER VII. 


Which Treats of Some Coeoniae Matters, Some Famiey 
Matters, and Gives us a Geimpse of Tunbridge. 

“England’s Capital was gathered there; her beauty and her chivalry.” 

Matters between the colonies and Great Britain 
had now assumed a more threatening aspect. 
Henry seemed to wield a magic power over 
the Burgesses and people, while other leading 
minds united their efforts with his to rouse Vir- 
ginia to armed resistance. In this state of affairs 
Corbin wrote to his brothers : 

“In the midst of the gay preparations for the all- 
important family event of Easter week, (which has 
occupied my mother and Mammy Tina for six 
months past, while the Berkeley Mansion and 
household have been in a state of preparation for 
twelve I believe), we cannot forget the grave situ- 
ation of public affairs. My father comes each day 
from the Burgesses deeply impressed by Mr. 
Henry’s powerful oratory, and fidelity to his con- 
victions of right; yet, whether or not it is lawful 
or expedient to have an open rupture, with the 
mother country, is a question of so much doubt 
and perplexity, that even the silver-tongued law- 
yer, cannot scatter them, and make a man’s duty 
plain to him. In the event of an appeal to arms, 
you will be speedily recalled home, for Virginia 


70 


The Griffins 


will need each of her sons to aid her in such an un- 
equal contest.” 

Upon receipt of this letter Samuel wrote at once 
to his parents, telling them of his love for ‘'Mis- 
tress Dolly Braxton,” which he wished to declare 
to her, but could not do so before he had confided 
his secret to them. He delayed this no longer, be- 
cause Corbin’s letter intimated that Cyrus and 
himself might soon be called home, and years 
would intervene before peaceful relations would 
exist between the colonies and England again. 

“And I would avoid such a long separation if it 
be Mistress Dolly’s pleasure to accept my suit, by 
asking her to marry me, before I return to Vir- 
ginia,” he pleaded. 

Then, as no answer could reach him before Au- 
gust, he prepared with great diligence for the clos- 
ing examinations, as an antidote to the suspense in 
which he was held. He passed them with honor, 
and Mistress Dolly was radiant with pleasure at his 
success, while the irrepressible “chum” said to 
their messmates : 

“Griffin is the luckiest fellow. He comes here 
from a half-savage country, wishes an honor and 
takes it, which should satisfy any reasonable man ; 
but, not content with it, he wins the approval of 
the prettiest girl in Oxford and wears her posy as 
if it were his title clear to happiness; well, let’s 
have a merry-making in his honor, for he is my 
friend and a true-born English gentleman, altho’ 


The Griffins 71 

his father did him wrong in leaving the old land 
for the new.” 

Cyrus was much disappointed at the probability 
that he would not finish his law studies in the Tem- 
ple, for its associations with the past and his in- 
creasing friendship with Traquair made him enjoy 
his daily routine there; yet he sometimes ac- 
knowledged that it would be a very wise thing for 
him to go as far away from Scotland as might be, 
for his thoughts would wander back to Traquair 
Castle and the Lady Christine more frequently 
than was well for him, a simple Virginia gentleman 
of aristocratic ideas and high lineage certainly, yet 
not one whom a “peer of the realm” would look 
upon as a suitable match for his daughter. 

Bulwer has truly said “That the destinies of our 
lives often spring from the impulses of unguarded 
moments.” So it proved with Cyrus. He had 
passed a week at X-mas at Lady Louisa Stuart 
Campbell’s, and there Lady Christine was spend- 
ing the winter, and had been introduced into socie- 
ty under her aunt’s chaperonage. The season was 
an exceptionally mild one, and on a bright sunny 
morning, such as does not visit Scotland often, a 
little cavalcade set out for a ride to Roslyn Castle. 
Cyrus, as during the last summer, acted as the 
Lady Christine’s cavalier. On reaching the castle 
they dismounted and entered, lingering long while 
the wonderfully-wrought pillars and roof arrested 
their attentions. The ruinous old castle which 


72 


The Griffins 


Cromwell’s men had battered down contained one 
room which Lady Christine especially desired to 
see. It was on the ground floor, and there Queen 
Mary had once found refuge “when the wrath of 
her people was gone out against her.” A narrow 
stairs cut in the hillside led them to it, and greatly 
they wondered at the hard earth floor, the narrow 
opening in the wall by which it was lighted, and 
the funnel reaching many feet above them, 
through which the smoke from the fire escaped. 

“And was it in this dreary room that the beau- 
tiful Queen lived for some days ?” asked Christine 
of their guide. 

“Aye, mi Leddy ; and richt weel contented was 
she wi’ it ; for she kenned, puir thing, that e’en the 
ground wod prove a softer pillow for her head than 
the block it was laid on at the last.” 

When they reached the top of the stair again, 
there was still time to visit the Hawthorn Glen 
before the short winter day drew to its close, so 
the whole party decided to venture down the pre- 
cipitous path. Christine had visited the place 
often, and knew each point well. From a shelving 
rock about half-way down a very fine view of the 
Glen could be obtained by looking over the ex- 
treme verge of the precipice. The path was per- 
fectly safe, but the tempting rock had from some 
cause become loosened, and while it appeared to 
be firmly imbedded in the soil, was in reality un- 
able to sustain even a very light weight. On 


The Griffins 


73 


Christine went, unconscious of any danger, and 
eager to reach the point of vantage before the rest. 

As she arrived at the spot she hesitated for one 
second, and then stepped upon the treacherous 
rock. But now as she stood upon it she felt it 
totter, and, almost paralyzed with fear, turned and 
hurriedly retraced her steps. It was well she did, 
for hardly had she reached the path before the dan- 
gerous platform, upon which she had stood but 
one minute before, gave way and fell with a tre- 
mendous crash down the steep ravine. Christine 
was horror-stricken, and when she realized what a 
hair-breadth escape she had made from a fearful 
death, she was completely overcome. Her ner- 
vous system gave way beneath the shock, and she 
sank to the earth senseless, with her head resting 
on the edge of the precipice and her hand and arm 
extending over the deep ravine. When Cyrus 
reached the spot a minute later, to his horror he 
saw her lying thus, inanimate, so near the dreadful, 
yawning chasm. With a glance he saw that the 
only way of removing her in safety was from that 
side on which the chasm shelved down to the glen, 
for the path above was too narrow to give firm 
footing to more than one person at the same time. 
Seeing a stout sapling growing a few feet below 
the path, he leaped to it, and there remained anx- 
iously watching for the first sign of consciousness, 
well realizing that it would be a moment of the 
greatest peril, because on suddenly arousing to the 


74 


The Griffins 


sense of danger he felt that Christine would prob- 
ably not have physical strength to move back into 
the path with the necessary caution. He knew 
Traquair would be with him in a few seconds, yet 
he seemed to live for years in that short time. 
Below him was the ravine more than one hundred 
feet deep. Above him the white face and mute lips 
which told him now his heart’s secret more forci- 
bly than any uttered words could have done, and 
he felt that he would never again after that exper- 
ience be a light-hearted boy, but that he had sud- 
denly become capable of man’s deep love and keen 
suffering. How he longed to see some sign of life, 
and yet how he dreaded it, before help came, least 
his strength should prove insufficient to bear her 
up and by so doing avert the fall into the depth 
below which was so apt to result from the slightest 
movement. Would they never come? At last 
Traquair was with him, and the united effort from 
above and below soon placed Christine in a posi- 
tion of safety, and Cyrus, with a step as active as 
a chamois, was quickly by her side in a wider path 
to which Traquair had borne her. The wine from 
his flask soon restored her to consciousness, and 
the party reached Edinboro in good time. Cyrus 
found himself quite the lion for the few days he re- 
mained in Edinboro. Lady Louisa was more than 
ever partial to him, his friendship with Traquair 
was doubly warm, and the Earl was truly grateful 
to the savior of his child’s life. Christine herself 


The Griffins 


75 


said, as her aunt told her all she had learned of the 
accident: “Aunt Louisa, when I recovered con- 
sciousness and I knew that I was safe from that 
horrible place I felt that he had had much to do 
with rescuing me. Charley would have given his 
life to save mine, but few would have seen the best 
mode of saving it so quickly as Mr. Griffin did. I 
am so glad he has proved to you that he is brave 
and wise also.” So in less time than it takes to 
describe it, a life was threatened with a violent end, 
was saved by a cool, brave deed, and the result of it 
all was that two young people came to the knowl- 
edge of the fact that they were essential to each 
other’s happiness. Yet the spring came and went, 
and the summer followed, and at last Charles 
Stuart was ready to put by books and be off to 
Traquair; but when he asked Cyrus when they 
should start, he was much amazed when that 
young gentleman replied : 

“I cannot go with you this year, my dear old 
fellow, for Samuel has engaged me to go with him 
to Tunbridge Wells, pleading that he should much 
like to have a glimpse of the gay world there. He 
has been studying very faithfully, and needs the 
rest which he will find in listening to and entering 
into the conversation of the charming men and 
women one meets with at the Wells. You and I 
have enough of it here throughout the season, but 
he is debarred from much of it at Oxford.” 

So Traquair was fain to go alone to Scotland 


76 


The Griffins 


this summer, and sorely did the Earl wonder why 
it was that Christine did not care to ride so much 
as last year, and altho’ she loved her brother very 
dearly, yet she did not relish his out-of-door sports 
with her former zest. 

“I fear me she has not yet recovered from the 
shock she received last winter,” he said; “I will 
have McAlpin to see if aught be wrong.” Ah! 
my Lord, you are right in your surmises, but there 
are some ailments which even McAlpin’s skill can- 
not cure. 

Samuel arrived in London soon after Traquair 
had left, and early in August Cyrus and himself 
went to Tunbridge to take part in the gaieties and 
pleasures of life there. Arriving on Saturday af- 
ternoon, they attended service on Sunday, and 
heard a sermon from no less a person than Dr. 
Braxton himself ! The wily Samuel had not hinted 
to Cyrus that he had a well-defined motive in wish-' 
ing to go to Tunbridge this summer, which was 
the hope of meeting Mistress Dolly, for he knew 
her father spent a portion of each year there, and 
some mention had been made of her accompany- 
ing him. 

Now the sermon was over, the benediction 
given, and the churchgoers came in large numbers 
down the promenade, toward the pump, to quaff 
the midday potion of the health-giving water. 
The young Virginians were much entertained and 
amused by the brilliant array of beauty and fash- 


The Griffins 


77 


ion, wit and learning, and gave willing ears to the 
little bits of conversation which reached them from 
time to time. 

“Ah! Mistress Frances, surely those roses in 
your cheek prove that you have no need of Tun- 
bridge/’ Dr. Johnson said to a blooming girl 
whom Cyrus had known in London. “In faith I 
have more abiding confidence in a good cup of 
green tea, than in all of the iron the wells contain ; 
yet the physicians will send us poor mortals to 
drink the waters morning, noon, and night.’’ 

“Well, sir, you shall be rewarded this evening 
with a cup of my best brewing,” she replied laugh- 
ingly; “and indeed my aunt Tabitha says that I 
show no mean skill therein.” 

“ ’Twill indeed then be nectar served by a 
Hebe,” the old gentleman gallantly replied. Then 
they passed on, and a continuous crowd filled the 
promenade, until at last Samuel caught sight of 
Mistress Dolly and her father, and Cyrus and him- 
self went forward to meet them. The Vicar 
greeted them heartily, and Dolly with her own 
bright smile of welcome; and while she and his 
brother walked and talked together, Cyrus listened 
with interest to the Vicar’s account of Tunbridge 
a few years previous. 

“Ah! it was indeed a brilliant society then. 
Richardson and the Lady Mary Wortley Mon- 
tague; Smollett and Fielding have all passed away, 
and I see not their equals in the present day me- 


78 


The Griffins 


thinks. The great Johnson is still left, but he, even, 
is not quite the same, and misses sadly the com- 
panionship of former years ; albeit he has Garrick 
still, and many other friends. The young girl you 
saw him with e’en now is the daughter of a Musical 
Doctor in London. Her name is Mistress Fran- 
ces Burney, in whose society Doctor Johnson 
takes much pleasure.” And all this while Mistress 
Dolly was telling Samuel of the many charms of 
the place, and that to-morrow there was to be a 
beautiful ball at the Assembly rooms, but she 
feared her father would not let her go, for he did 
not quite approve of the dancing. 

Thereupon Samuel plead earnestly with the 
Vicar that a minuet was the most health-giving ex- 
ercise, and after the quiet Oxford life ’twas very 
needful to indulge in it. 

The Vicar touched Dolly’s blushing cheeks 
lightly as he replied, “I fear your cause would fail 
for lack of evidence, Mr. Griffin; but you have 
a very powerful advocate in my conviction that the 
young need pleasure as surely as the old require 
rest ; so perhaps Dolly will go to-morrow with the 
Hon. Mrs. Howard, who has asked for her.” 

On the morrow the little lady made all in readi- 
ness for her first great ball, and Samuel and Cyrus 
each claimed a dance, and she was well assured that 
she would not be neglected in the midst of the 
many great London beauties and women of rank 
who would grace the Assembly. 


The Griffins 


79 


Truly, great variety was represented in the bril- 
liant assemblage upon which they gazed. From 
the Duchess of Devonshire to the wives and 
daughters of the gentry, and merchants of wealth, 
rank, and fashion were visible on all sides. Here, 
a young scion of nobility was paying marked at- 
tention to the golden charms of Mr. Port-wine's 
daughter; there, Mr. Porter-and-ale or Mr. Silk- 
and-linen paid court to the daughter of some 
needy nobleman, the payment of whose debts 
would be fair exchange for the daughter's hand. 
There were haply many who, like Mrs. Howard 
and her Honorable husband, found love was more 
than gold or title, and whose genuine happiness 
was the brightest of the bright things one saw. 
Some men of letters and of wit were still at Tun- 
bridge, and found congenial society among the 
women whose writing and bon mots have since 
made them famous. 

Mrs. Howard had lost none of the beauty which 
had so attracted Cyrus three years before in Lon- 
don when at Mr. Walpole’s ball he had heard her 
love-story from Traquair; and a coterie now sur- 
rounded her and Dolly as Samuel and Cyrus made 
their way to them through the throng. 

“My little Dolly, behold your cavalier,” said her 
guardian. “He is very like his brother, with even 
more of elegance perhaps in his manner and bear- 
ing. E’en my Lord Chesterfield could scarcely 
criticise either of them save favorably.” 


8o 


The Griffins 


Dolly presented Samuel to Mrs. Howard, while 
to Cyrus that lady extended her hand, saying : 

“ ’Tis not the first time we have met Mr. Griffin, 
but since my marriage I have mingled but little in 
the gay world; yet I am glad Dolly’s pleasure 
brought me to-night to this bright scene. In the 
colonies are your women called upon to entertain 
as much as the women of fashion in London?” 

“In the colonies one has more of care, I think,” 
replied Cyrus. “In Virginia we lead much the 
same life as the landed gentry in England. There 
are but few towns, and the country houses are fine 
brick structures generally, with many acres under 
cultivation surrounding them; and room within 
their walls for many guests. In Williamsburg 
we entertain a great deal during the session of 
the Burgesses, and my Lord Botetourt insisted 
upon much form and ceremony. This was by no 
means distasteful to the colonists, for they have 
carried down from father to son the love for the 
old country and for the life here as it was under 
the Stuarts. The care of so many slaves gives to 
our women a softness of manner, for they regard 
them as a trust committed to them, and although 
in some cases it may not be so, a sense of responsi- 
bility usually gives depth of thought. Our wo- 
men are companions for their husbands and 
sons; not simply ornaments to the home, but the 
mainspring in its machinery.” 

The conversation was interrupted here as the 


The Griffins 


81 

music sounded and the stately minuet began. Cy- 
rus led Mrs. Howard out, while Samuel and Dolly 
followed right willingly, for her little feet had been 
impatiently tapping the floor for some minutes 
past. How charmingly, with two very small 
hands, she lifted her crimson satin petticoat, just 
exposing the tips of her sharp-pointed slippers; 
how gracefully Samuel placed his hand o’er his 
heart as he made answering bow to her curtsy; 
how high the little lady stepped, and what a grace- 
ful curve her fair arm made as her hand met his, 
poised above her head; then with what stately, 
measured pace they trod the length of the room 
together, she using her marvelously-wrought fan 
with languid ease, while he, with chapeau-bras par- 
tially concealing the lace frill on the lappet of his 
coat, held very daintily with his right hand his 
partner’s gloved fingers. Then it was over, and 
he led her back to her seat ; but not before he had 
whispered some words in her ear which brought 
back the retort : 

“For shame, Mr. Griffin ! What would my 
father say?” 

“If it but please you, Mistress Dolly, I care for 
naught else ; and methinks though your words be 
somewhat sharp there is no displeasure in your 
eye, and on your lips I see a shadow of a smile.” 
Whereupon Mistress Dolly made a comical at- 
tempt at a frown, and failing therein listened unre- 
sistingly to more speeches of a like nature. 

6 


82 


The Griffins 


Cyrus claimed her hand for the next dance, and 
Samuel danced with the Lady Lucy Darcy, who 
had gained an added charm to her natural vivacity 
by two years’ experience in London’s society; 
and rumor was rife that my Lord Ashton’s ad- 
dresses would meet with favor from her. That 
nobleman was somewhat improved since he had 
determined to marry and take his seat in Parlia- 
ment, etc., and thus assume the outward semblance 
of a gentleman of rank and fortune. Yet it 
seemed a most unequal match which would take 
place between the Lady Lucy and himself. She 
was young, chaste, and fair; he past his first 
youth, a blase man of the world, and showing the 
effects of his habits of life in the very expression 
of his countenance, which had lost the refinement 
of early years. Unfortunately, the inequality did 
not end here — would it had done so, for the sweet 
young girl’s sake ! But the final and decisive 
feature was, that the Lady Lucy’s father had left 
her very poor, while all of Lord Ashton’s reckless 
extravagance had not made deep inroads into his 
large inheritance. ’Tis the old, old story! If 
Adam had not been made “in the image and like- 
ness of God,” and Eve had had a “poverty- 
stricken” mother and younger sisters, yet, as he 
owned the garden of Eden, he would have won her 
consent to marry him in order that she might do 
her duty (?) to her bereft family ! 


CHAPTER VIII. 


Tells us of a Journey Taken by Certain Parties to Lon- 
don, and What Befell when they Reached There. 

“Oh! there’s a dream of early youth, 

And it never comes again; 

’Tis a vision of light, and life, and truth 
That flits across the brain.” 

Too soon, alas, the weeks passed away, and a 
damp, cool morning late in August found the Lon- 
don Mail, with every seat engaged, awaiting the 
tardy passengers. The Vicar and Dolly, Drs. 
Johnson and Burney, Miss Burney and the two 
young Virginians, all of whom had been much 
together during these weeks, were now returning 
to London. At length all were seated, the coach- 
man’s whip was cracked furiously above the 
horses’ ears, and off they started, rumbling, jolting, 
galloping, sliding — coach, horses, and passengers. 

Dr. Johnson’s brown coat was rustier than usual, 
and his brass buttons less shining, or more dingy, 
as he sat between Miss Burney and her father 
and gave utterance to some of those rich, rare say- 
ings which made others stop conversing that they 
might hear them. 

“Yes, persuaded by Boswell’s entreaties and the 
account you have given of your journey on the 
continent, Burney, I am going on a tour very soon 
into that wild western country the Hebrides. 
Maybe we will be lost in the dreary wastes, and if 


84 


The Griffins 


so Burney will have some consolation in compos- 
ing a requiem for me, and perchance Miss Frances 
will let a tear fall into the Dresden china tea-cup 
which she fills with such delicious brewing/’ 

“And what an opportunity will be lost to poor 
Boswell if he should never return to write a history 
of your adventures,” replied Dr. Burney, “in which 
I feel assured he would take as much pleasure as 
I have ever done in my musical compositions. 
Marvelous it is that two such different men should 
be such close friends.” 

“Nay, sir, think not so; diverse elements always 
attract each other — ’tis a law of nature; and my 
poor Jamie’s greatest fault I can forgive much 
more easily than I can a weak point in others. 
Unfortunately, he is a Scotchman, but he is not to 
be held accountable for that.” 

The great Doctor was ever much prejudiced 
against the Scotch until he made his tour ; and yet, 
such was the hospitality he met with, that he 
changed his views regarding them, just as in the 
gratitude he felt to George III for his pension, his 
antagonism to the House of Hanover seems to 
have melted away. 

The Reverend Doctor discoursed much of Dr. 
Burney’s last churchly music. Miss Burney lis- 
tened with delight to the conversation of the 
learned men around her, as their themes changed 
from “grave to gay, from lively to severe.” To 
this habit of listening she attributed much of her 


The Griffins 


85 


great success in after years as a novelist. Occa- 
sionally, in her firm, yet clever speech, she would 
venture some bright remark which gave evidence 
of the mind Dr. Johnson had long ago discovered. 
So the “jogging along” was somewhat enlivened 
for the passengers, until London was reached and 
each went his or her own way. Dolly and her 
father went to the Boar’s Head, and when Cyrus 
and Samuel reached their lodgings a packet of let- 
ters awaited them, the contents of which soon 
made Samuel wend his way to the same place of 
“entertainment for man and beast.” A portion of 
one of the letters from his father was well pre- 
served in the Chronicles. 

“My dear son: 

“Your favor of the 25th of April reached us on 
the 15th day of June, and after mature deliberation 
your mother and myself have concluded, that as 
the spiritual and temporal welfare of our children 
has ever been our chief desire, we will not oppose 
you in your wish to win the love of Miss Braxton. 
Few men in the church stand higher than the 
Vicar of Hazeldean, as a Christian, gentleman and 
scholar. His wife I remember as a girl at Cam- 
bridge; whither she came with her uncle, Lord 
Lenox — and if the ‘girl be mother to the woman’ 
she must be now a charming matron. Knowing 
so much of the parent stock, I am prepared to be- 
lieve ’tis no mere love sick swain’s opinion, which 
represents Miss Braxton in the glowing terms of 


86 


The Griffins 


your letter, but that she is most probably a prize 
worth winning. Before you say more than you 
have yet done to her on a subject of such deep 
moment to us, as to yourself, you must give the 
enclosed to her father; this is but due to one who 
has so hospitably entertained you, and who may 
have reason to oppose your wishes. 

“If it be agreeable to him that you should then 
tell her your secret, you have our full consent 
thereto; and I doubt very much if she have not 
already divined it, for young girls are marvelous 
quick at such things. (I remember your mother 
accepted my addresses, with no show of surprise, 
although I thought I had been very prudent in 
biding my time.) 

“You must prepare to return home early in the 
New Year, for stormy times are soon coming upon 
us I fear; and if Mistress Braxton wills to come 
with you, she will be gladly welcomed as our 
daughter. Corbin and Mary Berkeley are very 
happy young people, and your mother enjoys 
much having a daughter, although she has always 
insisted that three boys were enough to fill heart 
and hands. Cyrus’ last letters are not quite so 
couleur-de-rose as formerly, which has caused us to 
be a little anxious lest all was not going well with 
the boy. Yet he seems to be applying himself dili- 
gently, and Mr. Walpole writes that he is acquit- 
ting himself creditably in the Temple, and in the 
circles in which he moves in London. Now my 


The Griffins 87 

son with love to your brother, from us and praying 
Heaven to speed your wooing, I am, 

“Your loving father, 

“Llewellyn Grieein.” 

A few words from his mother followed, so full 
of sympathy and loving tenderness that Samuel 
felt as if his cause were half won ; and he presented 
himself and his father’s letter with all speed to the 
Vicar. He read it carefully again and again before 
speaking, then he said : 

“And so you wish to take from us our Dolly, 
Mr. Griffin? Why, sir, she is but eighteen, and 
upon your chin I see no beard. I would you could 
wait a year; yet your father’s letter tells me that 
you must return full soon to America. Well, ’tis 
a very grave question and one the good wife must 
help me to decide. So the matter must rest until 
we meet again at Oxford, but in meantime hope 
on, sir.” 

And Master Samuel must perforce return to his 
lodgings without seeing Mistress Dolly for an- 
other week, as she was to leave early the next 
morning for her home ; but he had some little sat- 
isfaction in telling Cyrus of his “whole course of 
love” and in the sympathy which he received. 

When he paid his first visit to the Vicarage he 
felt that his suit was two-thirds won, for Mrs. Brax- 
ton, as good women always do, plead the cause of 
the young folk and had said to the Vicar, “/ left 
my father’s home for you; and I must e’en expect 


88 


The Griffins 


our children to leave us. We have known Mr. 
Griffin for two years now, and I think we may 
trust our Dolly to his keeping. I do not believe 
she will say him nay, but she must not be influ- 
enced by us; let him speak for himself, John, and 
if our child loves him, why what must be, must be, 
and ’twill be better not to make things harder for 
her in leaving us, by opposition to her wishes.” 

“You always decide in these matters well, my 
wife,” said the Vicar; “but what will the days and 
the years be without the bright face and winning 
ways which have become so much a part of our 
every-day life? Master Griffin will recover from 
his first disappointment and Dolly is too light- 
hearted to be much cast down.” 

“Oh! John, John, you know not what you are 
saying; ’tis true that thoughtless men make love 
to giddy girls, and sooner or later all is over and 
forgotten ; but this is no sudden, impulsive love on 
the part of our young people ; and even though the 
heaviest trials are made less sharp by time, and 
other pleasures may follow which seem to make 
their remembrance disappear, we would not be 
those who spoke the word to cause the first great 
trouble to our child. ’Twould doubtless pass away, 
but I think we would ever after fancy that we saw 
a tear in every smile.” 

The Vicar spent some time after this alone in his 
library. He knew in his heart that his wife was 
right ; that he was pleading only for himself when 


The Griffins 


89 


he had tried to believe he was consulting Dolly’s 
best interest — it would make such a void in his 
heart to have her go; so after carrying his case 
before that Tribunal to which he was wont to ap- 
peal in all difficulties, he came out and told Sam- 
uel that he could “speak for himself.” And having 
gained this permission, he was not slow to avail 
himself of it, but asking Mistress Dolly to walk in 
the grounds with him, he led her to the spot where 
a year ago he had thought of her as Red Riding- 
hood, and then he said : 

“Will you let me tell you now, Mistress Dolly, 
what I have known for long months past that I 
must tell you, sooner or later? I have been very 
happy here in Oxford, and in Wales, and Scot- 
land ; looked back to the winter which was past 
and forward to the winter which was to come, be- 
cause of the great happiness that I felt here. Un- 
til I knew you, I had been content with Cyrus; 
since we had gone first hand-in-hand to school; 
fought, and loved each other better afterwards; 
then to college, where we always stood side by 
side. But last year I knew that I valued your 
favor more than aught else, and I have striven 
hard to win it. I have told your father and mother 
what I have written to my own, and they have bid 
me speak to you. I ask that you will come with 
me to Virginia next year, where I will make for 
you such a home as only one who loves can give. 


90 


The Griffins 


I love you so truly that I measure all by mine and 
ask for no less a boon than yours in return. 

“ Tis much I ask, for you will leave parents, 
brothers, sisters, and the old home life; but even 
this I could do for you.” 

Ah! Samuel, truly thou wert born a diploma- 
tist, or rather thou hast learned the true art of 
love, which is, methinks, to speak from the heart 
to the heart. And now thy cause is fully won, and 
Dolly, with a smile on her lip and a tear in her eye 
says very earnestly and simply: 

“I will go with you.” 

All went gayly as a marriage-bell, until on the 
first day of New Year Cyrus came from London to 
be best man, the chum taking second place, and 
saying, poor fellow: 

“I will act as your ‘second best,’ Griffin; albeit 
’tis very like attending one’s own funeral, for I lose 
at one blow my best friend and my first hope of 
happiness; but what chance had I, a poor, idle, 
British gentleman, when you came and put in your 
claim as a learned Prince from a far-off land ? Ro- 
mance versus fact always wins, especially when it 
has such a fact to support it as you are. So I will 
help you off with your prize and then come back 
and drink your health, all night maybe.” 

If Prince had esteemed his master worthy of all 
honor before, on this great day he excelled himself. 
No man but he could prepare that master’s wed- 
ding toilet or hand him to his coach, and Raleigh 


The Griffins 


9i 


was of secondary importance. A great throng of 
people assembled in the church to see the Vicar’s 
fair young daughter, the pride of the parish, mar- 
ried ; the beautiful Lady Bunberry, her god- 
mother, was present, and LL. D.’s, and learned 
professors, and University men; Charles Stuart 
and Mr. Horace Walpole came from London, and 
Dr. Burney sent as a gift a beautiful wedding- 
march composed by himself. Yet among all the 
best people Prince was in no wise abashed, but 
held his future mistress’s white satin petticoat with 
careful fingers, until the organ pealed forth, the 
aisle was reached, and the bridal party marched its 
length to the altar, where under the light that 
shone from the window representing the marriage 
of Cana in Galilee, the Vicar pronounced “Samuel 
and Dorothy man and wife.’’ Then back to the 
Vicarage, through the boughs of holly and mistle- 
toe, and the wedding breakfast follows ; the bride 
dons a simple traveling-suit of dark rich stuff, with 
a knot of red ribbons at her throat; the grand 
wedding-dress (Lady Bunberry’s gift) is carefully 
packed away. Prince has folded the groom’s rich 
crimson suit and looks very disapprovingly at the 
simple black velvet which his master now wears. 
All is in readiness, for the Lady Bunberry’s car- 
riage arrives, and the little sister has the slipper. 
Prince is greatly impressed by the Lady’s grand 
equipage, and Dolly has said farewell to all save 
the Vicar and her mother. The mother’s heart is 


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very sad, yet she keeps up bravely for the sake of 
others. The Vicar folds his daughter once more 
to his heart, then takes her arm within his own and 
leads her to the coach, whispering a blessing over 
the young pair as the door is shut. And the car- 
riage moves off through the line of young and old, 
rich and poor, who send wishes of “long life and 
happiness” to the newly-wedded couple. Amen. 

Raleigh’s pride, which had been sorely cut ever 
since Prince’s conspicuous position at Samuel’s 
marriage, was gratified when his master ordered 
him, one blustering afternoon in February, to 
brush the fine suit and curl the grand wig which 
had figured on that important occasion. And when 
he knew why they were to be worn he was as 
proud as had he been My Lord High Chamberlain 
in attendance on his Majesty. His master was to 
be presented at Court! Mr. Walpole and Cyrus 
reached the Palace in due time, and after their 
names had been handed from lacquey to lordling, 
and from a little Lord to a greater, they at length 
found themselves in the presence of his most gra- 
cious “Majesty of Great Britain, Ireland and 
France, King.” A very small man to bear such 
weighty titles as he passed from one to another, 
saying a few words of greeting to each, for all un- 
like a modern drawing-room was the simple court 
regime “one hundred years since.” 

“Ah! my loyal Walpole! so you have brought 
with you Mr. Griffin, from Virginia? I trust you 


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93 


are not yet prepared to turn against our realm, 
sir?” 

To which Cyrus with a low obeisance replied 
gravely : 

“I fear much trouble is in store for all parties 
concerned. I love England truly ; still, Virginia is 
my birth-place and I never could be forgetful of 
the fact.” 

‘‘Bold words, young sir; yet I had, methinks, 
rather hear them sometimes than to listen always 
to the fine speeches of courtiers.” 

“His brother has proven double traitor, my Sov- 
ereign,” said Walpole; “not only going back to 
Virginia himself, but carrying with him as his bride 
a loyal English girl.” 

“Yes,” said his Majesty, who had now recovered 
from any annoyance Cyrus’ words may have 
caused; “we have heard of this marriage at Ox- 
ford, and of Mistress Braxton’s beauty, of which 
she gave promise when a wee thing. The Lady 
Bunberry was dear to me then, and had I not been 
a King, perhaps I might now have been your 
brother’s cousin, Mr. Griffin,” he added with a 
queer little laugh. “But being a King, ’twas for- 
bidden fruit, and my good Queen has had my 
whole heart since.” So saying, he passed on, and 
Cyrus and Mr. Walpole retired. 

“You may thank me for getting you out of the 
dilemma that your hot Southern blood was fast 
leading you into,” said Mr. Walpole as they drove 


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away. “The King’s love for Lady Sarah Lenox 
was well known, and no woman whom he loved 
would he ever ask to be less than his Queen ; so 
he had to resign her, and Sir Charles Bunberry 
married her soon after she had acted as bridesmaid 
to the royal couple. The King I knew would be 
pleased by an allusion which would recall the olden 
times, and you see how quickly his manner 
changed, and he made you the most favored guest 
by talking to you the long space of two minutes.” 

“I was right rarely favored, thanks, Mr. Wal- 
pole, to you ; but now that my mission is fulfilled 
for which you have sent for me several times, I am 
going back to the Temple, where Traquair will 
blame me for being presented as much as you did 
until I was willing to be. Save me from my friends, 
say I.” 

“Had you known my father,” replied Walpole, 
“you would understand that my loyalty to George 
III is as hereditary as Charles Stuart’s love for his 
foreign kinsman’s cause.” 

******* 

A break occurs here in the Chronicles, and all 
that we can gather is that Cyrus had not concealed 
his love for the Lady Christine from her aunt, and 
that the dear old lady was the warm advocate of 
the young people. The broken thread is taken up 
a little later on. 


CHAPTER IX 


In Which We Return to Virginia after Three Years' 
Absence. 

“Home again, home again, from a foreign shore, 

And, oh! it fills my soul with joy 
To greet my friends once more. 

And how had the time passed with Samuel and 
Dolly? At the end of three weeks old Point Com- 
fort and its rude fort were in sight, and early on 
the afternoon of the next day our travelers were 
off Jamestown. Much Dolly wondered at the 
great breadth of the river, so different from her 
own dear Thames ; and how large the plantations 
seemed in comparison with the beautiful little 
fields of green she was accustomed to ; yet the new 
scenes had a great charm by reason of the contrast. 
Further speculation was ended by the arrival at 
the wharf and the sight of the family into which 
she had entered, who had gathered to bid her wel- 
come to her new home. The young wife clung 
to her husband’s arm as if she would gladly go 
back, without landing, and hold more communion 
with the winds and waves, which give greater rest 
than all else save the everlasting hills ; yet the first 
dread meeting over, at the sight of the happy faces 
around her hers resumed its wonted brightness, 
and richly did she enjoy the drive of seven miles 
to Williamsburg, through the well-wooded coun- 


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try. There was naught like it in England. The 
smooth, white sandy road, bordered by the fringe 
tree, around which the fragrant wild jessamine 
twined its graceful leaves and rich yellow bells; 
and through it all came the mocking-bird’s song as 
it flew from bush to tree. Then they entered the 
town near the College, and Dolly remembered 
many of the boyish freaks Samuel had told her of 
which were committed within its precincts sacred 
to learning. All was new and so strange ! but now 
with a cry of joy she saw the church — so like the 
home churches, the same cruciform, the ivy-man- 
tled tower, the quiet church-yard, on whose tomb- 
stones many knightly escutcheons were carved; 
and this one bit of genuine English landscape lent 
a home likeness to everything, and she felt that 
her father and mother and the old life were linked 
closely with the new. When the house was 
reached the colored servants were very different 
from those at home; yet Mammy Tina’s greeting, 
“Come in, honey: dis is yo’ room, an’ here is 
Betsy ter take yo’ t’ings,” reminded her of the old 
nurse who had petted and spoiled her always ; and 
when Samuel came in, and looking radiantly happy 
asked Mammy Tina “if she had room in her heart 
for another child,” the old woman said : 

“Bress de Lord dat bring yo’ home an’ gib’ yo’ 
dis sweet young lady ter be yo’ wife !” 

To which Samuel uttered such a fervent Amen 
that Dolly was fain to laugh at his foolish fondness. 


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97 


So the little English girl found and filled her place 
in her Virginia home; and went to balls at the 
Governor’s, and to hear Mr. Henry in the Bur- 
gesses, and to many entertainments at the resi- 
dences of the country gentry. Surely there was 
no more pleasant life anywhere than that which our 
forefathers led. 

The cultured manners of the Stuart courtiers 
still lingered around their descendants. Oxford, 
Cambridge, the Temple had been the training 
schools of many, while the slave population gave 
A semi-feudal position which had almost dis- 
appeared in England. At Westover Mr. Byrd 
followed his literary pursuits, at Shirley and 
Brandon the Carters and Harrisons dispensed re- 
fined hospitality, while at Broadneck and Rosewell 
the Pages kept up the style of living to which Sir 
John had been accustomed in the baronial hall in 
England. The honeymoon being fairly over, 
Samuel went to his own estate of “Hazeldean,” ad- 
joining Corbin’s home of “Rippon Hall.” 

In June, ’75, the Boston Port-Bill, framed by the 
mad ministry of a madder King, was put into ef- 
fect, and Virginia, loath to leave the Mother Coun- 
try, was compelled to take active steps against the 
enforcement of laws which for eight years past she 
with her sister-colonies had striven in vain to have 
repealed. Long and earnestly her great sons 
strove to avert the unfilial struggle, but the great 
Mother’s love having waned, nothing was left for 


7 


98 


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each child but to cut asunder the ties which bound 
her to the old homestead and to establish a new 
one for herself. 

Wild talk of war’s alarms reached the peaceful 
homes. Dolly, so loyal to King and to husband, 
grew somewhat wan, and the Virginians did what 
they could to cheer her. For as yet the worst had 
not come, and a few sanguine spirits hoped on. 
Dunmore held his court at Williamsburg and the 
outward appearance of things was not materially 
affected. Prince made a very brave dining-room 
servant at Hazeldean, and Betsy, being well-disci- 
plined by Mammy Tina, was a deft little hand- 
maid. “Uncle” Paul was well satisfied to drive the 
little lady hither and thither at her own sweet will, 
while the two cooks would strive to please the 
young mistress, and Samuel thought her a model 
housewife, and wrote letters to London and Ox- 
ford loud in her praises. 

When Cyrus received Samuel’s letters it made 
the hard lot he had to bear seem still harder, yet 
he honestly rejoiced in his brother’s happiness and 
prepared to leave his own hopes behind him and 
return to Virginia as soon as X-mas was fairly 
over. So, parting from Traquair, he set out for 
Oxford to spend this last week but one of his stay 
in England with the Vicar and his wife. 

“So our Dolly is mistress of another ‘Hazeldean’ 
now, Mr. Griffin,” said the Vicar, “and Samuel 
writes marvels of her skill at housekeeping, while 
she gives all the praise to her excellent servants.” 


The Griffins 


99 


Traquair came to London to see him off, and 
brought with him letters from the Lady Louisa 
Stuart Campbell and little Louise, bidding him 
bon voyage. The staunch old Lady wrote : 

“I have pleaded your cause in vain, with my 
brother, and I am very much worried about Chris- 
sy and yourself. You are proud and silent and she 
is proud and loving; so I know not what is to 
become of me between one obstinate old head, and 
two foolish young ones ; I only know that you are 
both unhappy and that I am so also.” 

And the little Louise wrote : 

“Dear M. Ciris: 

“Chris and I are at aunty's now, and I write to 
say ‘good-bi.’ you alwas mak me so happe when 
you cum, and an ugly old nobleman (not so very 
ole but oldish) cums to aunty’s and I think he 
wants Chrissy to marry him, but she wont I know, 
for she tears up his notes and looks awful made 
abute it. Why don’t you cum and marry Chrissy, 
and be my brother like dear ole Charlie: I wish 
you wud; but I am so tired now I must stop — 
Good-bye — God bless you, 

“Your lovin little frend — 

“L. Stuart.” 

The next morning when Traquair came to Cy- 
rus’ lodgings he found a note saying “he would 




100 


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be back ere very long,” and Raleigh in much per- 
plexity said : 

“I hope he ain’t gone off ter be killt ag’in ; but 
he ordered the coach ter be here at 7 o’clock an’ 
tol’ me ter pack a little han’-valise, an’ off he went, 
sah ! widout a word mo’ ter me ’cept dat I might 
git everyt’ing ready ter sail on de p’inted day.” 

Now a page comes in my Chronicles which I 
would like to embellish if I could, by writing that 
the old Earl suddenly relented, and that a brilliant 
wedding in high life took place at the Earl’s castle 
in Peebles; but I must tell the truth or nothing, 
and this is what really did take place : Cyrus, after 
reading those two letters, felt that if he owed re- 
spect to the Earl because he had been his host, he 
owed allegiance to the girl whose heart he believed 
he had won, and who possessed his so entirely. So 
he made all haste to Edinboro, and to the Lady 
Louisa, and told her his determination to let Chris- 
tine decide all for himself and herself ; the dear old 
Lady could not blame him if she would. Now 
Chrissy, coming in unawares in some sudden, inex- 
plicable way, in a few brief, eloquent words, was 
made to understand all, and I don’t know how it 
happened, but that very day the priest came, the 
marriage-articles were all drawn up, and a very 
quiet wedding took place in Lady Louisa Camp- 
bell’s drawing-room; and then the young crim- 
inals, feeling very sorry, — I have no doubt they 


The Griffins 


ioi 


thought they felt so, — went with Lady Louisa to 
Traquair Castle, and told the old Earl the whole 
truth. The Lady Louisa pleaded her own unhappy 
youth, and Cyrus told him that for himself he 
might have borne all, but he could not let Chris- 
tine believe he did not love her; his first duty was 
to her ; and she said, “My father, do not send me 
away without a word of forgiveness, for I could 
not go so far without your blessing/’ So in the 
very beginning of her married life her cry was like 
unto Esau’s! 

And while the old Earl strove to realize it all, 
and to control the anger that would arise in his 
heart, the little Louisa went very gently to him, 
and climbed upon his knee and stroked his beard, 
saying : 

“ ’Twas I that did it all, father. I wrote to Mr. 
Cyrus that Chrissy was miserable when he went 
away; and that she just hated Lord Andrew, and 
that I wished he would come and marry her him- 
self and be my brother always. I was glad when 
he came, and now every one is unhappy.” 

The Earl gently put aside the childish hands, 
and kissing the little prattler, said : 

“How can I refuse my blessing when the little 
one pleads so unconsciously for you; you have 
acted the knight errant right well, sir. Christine, 
come once more to your old father’s heart ere you 
leave him.” Lady Louisa wiped some tears away 
as she said: 


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“ ’Tis better for one old heart to suffer a blow 
to its pride than to have two young hearts suffer 
in their love; if they have done wrong, Heaven 
forgive them and me, and send a happy ending to 
it all.” 

Let us pray the same, dear reader. 

So it came to pass that in Burke’s Peerage, un- 
der “Traquair,” we find the following entries : 

“CHARLES, died unmarried. 

LADY CHRISTINE, married to CYRUS 
GRIFFIN. 

LOUISA STUART (unmarried). 

Mammy Tina prepared the grand guest cham- 
ber as fitting for “de King’s cousin dat dun mar- 
ried our youngest boy,” and said to Cyrus : 

“I bery tankful ter see dis day, but dem boys 
Prince an’ Raleigh mos’ wears my life out wid de 
high Lon’on notions. I had ter tek a time ter 
train Prince, an’ now Raleigh bin cum wid he fine 
clo’es an’ lofty airs, an’ I hab it all ter go ober wid 
him.” 

“Train him well, Mammy,” laughed Cyrus, “for 
he has been my master for three years, and it is 
high time to change places now. Besides, I am 
under a new rule you know, and ’tisn’t fair to a 
poor fellow to let him be too much under control.” 

“De new rule is de best t’ing in de work fer yo’,” 
said Mainmy. 

*************** 


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103 


The spring of ’76 had brought with it the trou- 
ble which had until now been warded off ; and the 
war between Virginia and Great Britain began by 
the flight of the Governor to the fleet, and the sub- 
sequent harassing warfare he carried on along the 
shores, burning and sacking wherever he could 
from Richmond to the Chesapeake. Mr. Henry’s 
war cry had resounded from Virginia to Massachu- 
setts on the North, to Carolina on the South; and 
amid the clatter of musketry and the booming of 
cannon was heard the silver-mouthed orator’s toc- 
sin as it rung out upon the troubled air, 

“Give me liberty or give me death !” 

Colonel Washington and Dr. Mercer exchanged 
the red-coat for the blue and buff. Colonel Henry 
led out his seven hundred men from Fredericks- 
burg, and when the powder magazine was robbed 
of its contents at Williamsburg, he forced the 
Royal troops to make “indemnity.” 

Corbin placed himself under General Mercer’s 
command and Samuel attached himself to Colonel 
Lewis. Cyrus remained at home, because his 
father wished him to take his place at once at the 
bar and as his successor in the House of Burgesses, 
and thus the other households all being broken up, 
the old home at Williamsburg became for the 
nonce a house of refuge for the children and chil- 
dren’s children; and there the little Elizabeth 
Braxton Griffin saw the light on Easter morning, 
and Cyrus stood as godfather when the little lady 


104 


The Griffins 


was baptized a few weeks later. At last Lord Dun- 
more left off his unmanly warfare and retired upon 
his laurels (?) to England; and at Lexington, and 
Bunker Hill, and Great Bridge the colonial arms 
met with success, and put to the rout more than 
once England’s picked soldiery; and the waiting, 
anxious household at Williamsburg were cheered 
from time to time by good news from the camp, 
while Cyrus worked with might and main, assisting 
his father in matters of grave importance in the 
Capitol, yet feeling meanwhile very like a caged 
lion. 

All the world knows that in 1776 the colonies 
declared their independence, and while Henry was 
firing with oratory, shot, and shell against the ene- 
my in America, Lord Chatham was pleading with 
equal eloquence the cause of the colonies in Eng- 
land; but the Mad King grew madder still, and 
could not be made to see that he was fighting with 
no foreign power, such as England usually con- 
quered, but with men of the same Anglo-Saxon 
race as the Englishmen who fought against them. 
The fight went on, and little Dolly’s cheek grew 
pale from anxiety about the soldier husband, and 
longing for the dear home faces; while Christine 
rejoiced in any discomfiture to the House of Han- 
over, and stimulated Cyrus’ ambition by her own 
high spirit. 


CHAPTER X 


In Which we Meet With our Old Friend “Dr. Mercer,” 

now “General, ” and Bid Him a Last Farewell. 

“The bravest are the tenderest, the loving are the daring" 

There was but little show of merry-making in 
Williamsburg at X-mas, for the army of 1776 was 
in the cold December weather stationed on the 
bleak New Jersey heights; and the warm hearts in 
the more genial climate of lower Virginia were, in 
spirit, with the brave soldiers. 

On Christmas night General Washington com- 
pletely routed the hireling Hessians in Trenton, 
and then re-crossed the Delaware on the night of 
the 26th, having captured one thousand prisoners, 
six brass field-pieces, one thousand stands of arms, 
and four standards; thirty-six of the enemy were 
killed and Washington lost but four men ! Corbin 
sent Tom, his body-servant, to Williamsburg to 
report his safety, and gave the foregoing facts to 
his father in a brief note. It will be remembered 
that in the beginning of these Chronicles Corbin 
had written from Canada of his interview with an 
old Indian chief, and had suspected that Dr. Mer- 
cer was the English medicine-man referred to. 
Frequently since his return to Virginia he had met 
the Doctor, so when Mercer gave up his profes- 
sion to take active part in the colonial struggle, 


io6 


The Griffins 


and was given the rank of general, Corbin was glad 
to avail himself of the opportunity presented of 
joining his staff. One night, shortly after the af- 
fair at Trenton, General Mercer and his staff were 
seated around a bright camp-fire, with pipes of 
Virginia tobacco and a mild decoction of hot bev- 
erage. Deeming the time fitting for such a his- 
tory, Corbin ventured to ask General Mercer of his 
wanderings after the retreat from Fort Duquesne. 
The General took several whiffs of his pipe and 
then began : 

“The day after the final rout I found myself en- 
tirely alone, surrounded by forests in a country 
quite new to me, and inhabited by Indians, some of 
whom were in the pay of the French while others 
again were friendly to the English. Almost at the 
point of starvation, with quite a deep wound in my 
shoulder, which I dressed as well as was possible, 
I was forced to eat the flesh of rattlesnakes to sus- 
tain life. One evening at dusk I heard low moans 
and an infant’s cry. In my great joy at any human 
sound after these long, solitary days, I pressed for- 
ward, and saw a poor Indian woman, bearing in 
her arms a young child, and uttering sounds of 
grief as she gazed at it and pressed its little body 
more closely in her arms, trying to soothe its cries. 
I approached her quietly and laid my hand upon 
her. She turned, and would have fled from me, 
but I made her understand by sign and gesture 
that I only wished to help her child ; that perhaps 


The Griffins 


107 


I could find out what ailed it. After watching me 
somewhat suspiciously, she consented to let me 
hold the child and examine it. I soon found that 
the little creature was suffering from a large splin- 
ter which was buried in the arm, but not too deep- 
ly to be drawn away with an instrument, and giving 
the child back to its mother, I soon relieved the 
suffering. So great was her gratitude that she ex- 
claimed : ‘Our medicine-man is dead, killed by the 
wicked English; my baby could not be cured by 
one of our tribe ! The Great Spirit sent you and 
you have given me back my child !’ Now, although 
the words were unintelligible to me, yet I knew 
that they expressed gratitude, and I tried to show, 
by pointing to my mouth, that I was hungry, and 
by touching my feet that I was weary. At last I 
made her understand my wants sufficiently, and 
she motioned me to follow her, leading the way 
through the forests to an opening where a dozen 
or more tents were placed, and in the midst a 
bright fire burning, around which a number of war- 
riors were dancing, uttering savage yells and 
brandishing tomahawks. Placing her finger on her 
lips she led me past the outer tents and finally bid 
me enter one. She placed before me dried veni- 
son, rough bread, and a flask of spring water ; and 
pointing to a heap of straw showed me that there 
I might rest myself and hide if any one came near. 
She left the tent, and approaching the warriors 


io8 


The Griffins 


called one of them and soon returned to the door 
with him, saying : 

“ 'For two nights sleep has fled away from our 
babe; the medicine-man came no more, and our 
child must soon follow him ; but the Great Spirit 
heard me. He has sent one to cure her. Now, 
what will you give in exchange for the life given to 
you ?’ 

“ ‘The Red Man gives life for life, even as he 
takes life for life, you very well know,’ he an- 
swered. 

“ ‘Then come in quickly,’ she said, ‘for in the 
tent a white man is waiting, far away from all 
friends. Let no Red Man see him, or else they 
will slay him and we shall be cursed for their 
bloody deed, for truly he has given sweet sleep to 
our babe.’ 

“They entered the tent, and the warrior told me 
in tolerable English what his squaw had related to 
him, and that my life was in no danger ; but that I 
must rest quietly, and he himself would see me far 
on my journey at early dawn. And now I enjoyed 
the first rest I had had since the day of the battle ; 
and I slept soundly as a child in full health. When 
I was awakened, I found that the squaw had bound 
up my feet with healing herbs, and placed clean 
clothing by my side, which doubtless had been 
taken from some less fortunate prisoner, but was 
gratefully worn by me now. 

“A breakfast consisting of the same simple food 


The Griffins 


109 


as that which had been my supper was already 
placed near me, and as I finished eating, the chief 
entered and said that it was time we were off if we 
would reach the white man’s dwelling before the 
sun was behind the mountains. The way lay by 
narrow paths and through deep ravines, sometimes 
along the banks of a stream, a plunge in which 
aided much in restoring my strength. At last we 
espied a little hamlet of rude huts, and the Indian, 
pointing out a path by which it could easily be 
reached, said: 

“ ‘There lies the great English chieftain, 
wounded unto death ; go now to your people, and 
tell them that the Indian can show gratitude no 
less than revenge. You have saved my child pain; 
I give you your life in return.’ So saying, he left 
me, and was soon lost to sight in the forest. 

“After finding that General Braddock had died 
early in July, I went on to Fort Cumberland, 
where I knew our poor remnant of an army was in 
part gathered, and reached it by noon the next 
day.” 

“I heard from the old chief himself the story you 
have told us, General, and I believed then that he 
referred to none other than yourself,” said Corbin. 

Before General Mercer could reply, a sergeant 
came with orders from Washington to have his 
command in readiness for marching as quickly as 
was possible; while he himself was requested to 
come at once to the General’s tent, as he wished to 


no 


The Griffins 


hold council with the officers commanding the sev- 
eral portions of the army. The situation of affairs 
was briefly stated, and the question was whether it 
would be wiser to defend Trenton against Corn- 
wallis’ advance, or by making a detour to Prince- 
ton, capture the British troops with the arms, am- 
munition, etc., which were there stored. 

It was determined to make the detour and sur- 
prise Princeton. All being in readiness, the army 
commenced its march along the Quaker Road, and 
passed Cornwallis’ rear-guard without having been 
discovered ; yet the road was in such wretched con- 
dition that the march was slow and toilsome. A 
very few men had been left in the camp at Trenton 
to keep the camp-fires burning, and to make a pre- 
tense of digging trenches, so that the enemy would 
be deceived thereby as to the real whereabouts of 
the American army. These men had orders to be 
ready at day-break to join in the march. General 
Mercer’s command formed the van-guard. As 
they emerged from a thicket, their presence was 
discovered by Colonel Mawhood, who was march- 
ing from Princeton to join Cornwallis at Trenton. 
Mercer saw at once that a fight must ensue, and he 
led his men at double quick to the crest of a hill 
near by, which would give him the advantage in 
position. Colonel Mawhood, thinking the Amer- 
icans were in retreat, determined to cut them off, 
and he also made an effort to reach the rising 
ground ; but the Americans gained it and opened a 


The Griffins 


hi 


sharp fire upon the advancing foe, yet on they 
came. Mercer’s horse having been killed, he 
fought on foot, sword in hand. The English troops 
were now near enough to use the bayonet, and the 
Americans, having none, could not resist the on- 
slaught made upon them. Vainly did Mercer 
strive to rally them. Being felled to the earth by 
a brutal blow with the butt end of a musket, he 
sprang to his feet, and with his sword flashing to 
the right and to the left, refusing all quarter, he 
fought on, until at last he fell under the many bay- 
onet thrusts which had pierced his body. He lay 
to all appearances dead, and the exultant enemy 
went on cheeriilg and pursuing the Americans. 
Washington heard the firing and sent a Pennsylva- 
nia brigade to Mercer’s aid. Colonel Mawhood 
halted and opened with his artillery upon the re- 
inforcements, and succeeded in driving them back. 

At this juncture Washington came upon the 
scene. Impelled by his presence and personal 
courage, the broken troops at length rallied and an 
American battery was now turned upon the en- 
emy. One thousand Virginia troops also came 
into action, and the issue of the day was victory 
for the Americans. Colonel Mawhood cut his way 
with great boldness through the colonial army and 
retreated toward Trenton. 

The fifty-fifth British was put to flight by St. 
Clair and retreated to Brunswick, and the third 
command of the English were either taken prison- 


112 


The Griffins 


ers or retreated to Brunswick also. When Mercer 
had been left on the field as dead, his staff deter- 
mined to secure his remains as soon as they could 
do so. They made their way back to the spot upon 
which he had fallen. When they reached it, they 
found their loved commander returned to con- 
sciousness and suffering great pain from his 
wounds. Corbin administered restoratives and 
quieting potions, and soon they removed him to a 
Mr. Clark's house near by. From the first, Corbin 
and old and skilful surgeons felt hopeless of a 
permanent cure ; and as the week wore on, 
dread became almost a certainty; sad and heavy 
hearts they bore while awaiting the end. This 
came one week from the day upon which he 
had fallen, and he breathed his last in the arms of 
Major Lewis, one of his aids and Washington’s 
nephew. 

The latest tidings that fell on his ears of the 
cause he had espoused with so much devotion was 
of the victory which had just been won. 

His remains were interred in Christ Church, 
Philadelphia, and were followed to the grave by 
thirty thousand people.* Corbin carried the sad 
news to Virginia, and as he held the little orphaned 
Hugh upon his knee the child said : 

“I must not weep for my soldier father. I must 
try to take care of my mother; and when I am a 


’•‘Appleton’s Encyclopedia. 


The Griffins 


ii3 

man I will be a soldier like my father and die may- 
be as bravely as he did.” 

So the tide of war rolled on. At last in ’81 the 
prospects of the American arms became at first a 
little brighter, and then the clouds lifted one by 
one, until the glorious light of Liberty broke forth 
in full blaze at Yorktown. 

How fared it with our friends during all this 
time? It was indeed wonderful how few of our 
great leaders fell. Washington passed through un- 
scathed by shot or shell, seeming to bear & 
charmed life ; Henry lived to be elected more than 
once to the Governorship of Virginia, while Lee, 
Greene, Jefferson, the Griffins, with hosts of 
others, survived. 

Lady Christine, having no love for the House 
of Hanover, rejoiced in the defeat of its arms; but 
little Dolly, loyal to everything, to husband, father, 
Washington, and the King at one and the same 
time — ’twas no wonder that the dear little face 
bore traces of care and the little figure grew some- 
what lighter. 

When Washington received Lord Cornwallis’ 
sword in token of surrender, he believed that the 
hour had come when his own could be laid aside 
for the “plough-share and the pruning-hook and 
that once more, at Mount Vernon, the handsome 
matron and lovely maiden, with the adopted son 
and heir to his estates, would be gathered. Even 
my Lord Fairfax, he fondly hoped, would be in- 
duced to come forth from his retirement at Green- 
8 


The Griffins 


114 

way Court, whither he had been driven by love for 
King and country, and join the household at 
Mount Vernon; but ’twas not to be yet, and for 
two years longer the Commander-in-Chief was 
kept away from his home by his official duties. 
Only once in eight years did he visit Mount Ver- 
non, when for a few hours he stopped there with 
the Count de Rochambeau on his journey to York- 
town. 

“This chapter is a very small space to devote to 
an eight years’ war,” yet I think ’twill suffice, for 
we have all studied in numberless histories of the 
successful Revolution, and Mr. Irving has written 
the most charming life of the great man who led 
our troops to victory and then guided the helm of 
the new ship of state to the desired haven of rest 
and peace ; so let’s be done with war and its gloom 
and turn to different scenes ; but before we do so, 
I must copy from the Chronicles some pages which 
tell of an incident in which Mistress Dolly was a 
prominent figure, and which caused General 
Washington to say to Colonel Griffin: 

“No wonder you have proved so gallant a sol- 
dier, my brave young Colonel, when the mistress 
of your house and heart can face the British out- 
posts and carry out her well-laid schemes without 
detection. Verily, ’tis our women who inspired 
us, and to them we owe in no small measure our 
success; no man is brave enough to risk being 
court-martialed by the commander-in-chief of the 
home department.” 


CHAPTER XI 


In Which Mrs. Samuel Griffin Proves Her Loyalty and 
was True to Her Own Womanly Nature. 

“Every minute now should be the father of some stratagem.” 

“Rippon Hall” was situated not far from York- 
town, and adjoining it was “Hazeldean,” Colonel 
Griffin’s new home. Rippon Hall had been built 
many years before the Revolution, of English 
bricks. The door-way was of heavy oak, and 
would put to shame by its hospitable proportions 
the entrances to our modern houses; on either 
side the walls of the house were rounded, forming 
semi-circular projections, and on each story these 
contained small apartments which were reached 
from the ground floor by a narrow staircase, but 
had no egress from or ingress to the rest of the 
house. When Colonel Griffin was stationed at 
Yorktown, Dolly wished to be near in case of any 
accident to him, and as Corbin’s fine old home- 
stead was safer then her own home, she went there 
from Williamsburg, leaving the children with their 
grandmother and Mammy Tina. A short time be- 
fore the surrender of Lord Cornwallis, some sharp 
skirmishing had occurred, and Colonel Griffin sent 
Prince to assure his mistress of her husband’s 
safety. 

One night the trusty servants were closing the 


n6 


The Griffins 


heavy doorway with bolt and bar, and only a dim 
lamp-light was burning in the beautiful drawing- 
room, wainscoted from floor to ceiling with oak; 
the wood fire built to keep out the chill October 
air was throwing out a few fitful gleams on the 
richly-carved mantel, and Dolly had just laid aside 
a fancy pinafore she had been working for her lit- 
tle daughter, when Prince came in breathless, and 
gasped out: 

“Oh! Missus, somethin’ is wrong sho’ ; jest on 
de groun’ floor in de little roun’ room I heerd 
groanin’s, an’ I t’ink I kin hear chains clankin’ too. 
Oh ! Missus, les’ go to Williamsburg, or ter Marse 
Sam in de camp; oh! Missus, I’se feared ter stay 
here.” 

“Be quiet, Prince, and go to the quarters, where 
you may rest in peace I think ; you certainly can- 
not fear remaining where your master permits me 
to stay.” But having reassured her servant, she 
was by no means free from some uneasiness her- 
self, and when Uncle Seth, the dining-room ser- 
vant, came in a few minutes later with his lantern 
from his nightly inspection, she said : 

“Uncle Seth, I distinctly hear sounds of painful 
breathing coming from the small room in the 
ground-floor of the east projection; so please bring 
your lantern and come with me.” 

The old servant respectfully acquiesced, and 
soon they reached a trap door, which was kept fast 
closed usually. They found it very easy to move. 


The Griffins 


117 

and a flight of stairs leading from it to the room 
above was gained. The breathing was unmistak- 
able now, and even Dolly’s heart grew a little chill 
as she listened; but she knew that whoever or 
whatever gave utterance to these moans was suf- 
fering, and this knowledge was enough to impel 
her onward. So gathering all of her strength and 
making a brave effort to conceal her real terror 
from the servant, she reached the top of the stair. 
In a corner lay, half-unconscious, a youth about 
twenty years of age, wearing the British uniform. 
The fair, boyish face showed ghastly pale by the 
lantern’s light, and as he awoke from a troubled, 
painful sleep he turned a startled, piteous glance 
upon Dolly and cried out : 

“Who are you? The last thing I remember, I 
saw my mare Nellie fall, — and then blood stained 
my white sword-belt, — and I crawled to the side of 
a large house, — and dragged myself into a trap- 
door and shut it lightly, for I was very weak ; then 
I groped up some stairs and found a small room, 
and being all alone, I thought of my mother and 
sister and of one other, until darkness fell upon me ; 
but now I am awake, and I think you must be an 
angel, for you look so white and fair and gentle. 
Oh ! how this wound pains me ; ’tis like a red-hot 
iron. Can you cool it for me? Must I go on suf- 
fering so?” 

All this was jerked out in short sentences, and 
ere he had concluded, Dolly had quite formed her 


n8 


The Griffins 


plans for his immediate relief. While gently 
smoothing his brow, she dispatched Uncle Seth to 
the house for a cot and coverings, linen bandages, 
brandy, and cool water. She loosed the sword 
belt, red with blood on the left side; then, open- 
ing the coat, a small wound was laid bare, the flow 
of blood from which had been slightly staunched 
by the heavy cloth of the uniform, but it burst 
forth now with force. Uncle Seth’s practical sur- 
gery on the plantation was of good service here, 
and after Dolly had washed the wound free from 
any bits of clothing which had been driven in by 
the ball, he bandaged it with skill enough to give 
relief, then Dolly administered a sleeping potion, 
and the poor youth was soon breathing more easily 
and fell into a quiet slumber. Dolly now had time 
to collect her thoughts and determine what was 
next to be done. She conjectured rightly that the 
young courier must have been wounded in yester- 
day’s skirmish and that his horse had probably 
been wounded also and only had strength enough 
to bear him a few miles ; not knowing the country 
thoroughly, he had doubtless lost his way, and 
when his horse could no longer bear him, found 
refuge within the trap-door, as he feared being 
taken prisoner. The knocking of his sword upon 
the stairs was the “clanking of the chains” which 
had so alarmed Prince. To send him at once to 
his master was her first thought, but it would not 
do for him to know that a British officer was find- 


The Griffins 


119 

in g refuge in this house. At this critical moment 
in colonial affairs it might compromise him seri- 
ously, and she must be enabled to say with truth 
that he was entirely ignorant of it ; yet, if no sur- 
geon came to extract the ball, no hope of the sol- 
dier’s life could be entertained. A surgeon must be 
obtained from the British army, but how? Hour 
after hour she sat scheming and plotting, while 
Uncle Seth and the patient slept on. At last the 
light grew brighter in the east, and waking Uncle 
Seth she told him where all things needful were to 
be found, and that he must take charge of the pa- 
tient until she returned; then going to the house 
she prepared such diet as was best suited to an in- 
valid, and while a serving-maid was sent to bid 
Prince saddle her horse and his own, she hurried to 
the outer room with the nourishment she had pre- 
pared. 

“Now, Uncle Seth,” she said, “Colonel Griffin 
may be in great danger if we are not very cautious. 
The family has always trusted you, I believe now 
you will prove faithful to that trust. Do not let 
any one come into the trap-door until you hear my 
voice, and when the young gentleman wakes give 
him some nourishment, and if he suffers, another 
sleeping draught. I will take Prince with me, and 
you are to reply to any questions that may be 
asked by the servants, that I have gone to the 
camp.” 

Dolly then partook of a light breakfast and set 


120 


The Griffins 


out on her errand of mercy. Fortunately, Prince 
was well known as Colonel Griffin’s body-servant, 
still it was no light task which she had undertaken, 
and she offered fervent prayers for safety to herself 
and all whom “this early morning ride” concerned. 

When the. American camp was reached, the 
usual challenge was given, and answered by 
Prince, who added, “This is Colonel Griffin’s lady, 
sah !” With a salute the sentinel permitted them 
to pass on, thinking it was quite natural that an 
officer’s wife should visit her husband, accompa- 
nied by his body-servant. Very longingly her eyes 
were fixed upon her husband’s tent, marked by the 
flag which she had herself wrought for his regi- 
ment. Presently, after an hour perhaps had 
elapsed, Prince said : 

“Yonder is de British out-posts, Missus. I ain’t 
never bin so near ’em befo’.” 

He was sorely perplexed at his mistress’s con- 
duct in passing the camp without going to his mas- 
ter’s tent, but he knew his place too well to venture 
upon any criticism. Suddenly all of his wonder- 
ing was put to flight by a command to “halt and 
give the countersign !” 

“I am the wife of an officer in the American 
army. I do not know the British countersign,” 
Dolly replied. 

Something in her manner forbade all rudeness, 
and the soldier said politely: 


The Griffins 


121 


“I must needs arrest you, lady, and carry you 
before my captain.” 

“If this be your duty, perform it speedily, good 
fellow, for I am on urgent business which cannot 
brook delay.” 

In maturing her plans, Dolly had anticipated 
this arrest as the only means of obtaining access to 
a surgeon ; so, in no wise dismayed, but very weary 
from the night watch and the long ride, she dis- 
mounted and followed the sentinel to the house* 
which Lord Cornwallis made use of for his head- 
quarters. At the entrance they were placed in 
charge of another guard, who ushered them into a 
small room, saying : 

“You will await the captain here, my lady; he is 
at breakfast now.” 

How long the minutes seemed, every one of 
which made the hope of saving the courier’s life 
less strong. Unless the wound was soon probed 
and the bullet extracted, inflammation would set in 
and could not easily be allayed. The suspense was 
sickening, and her mental suffering increased, be- 
cause in this very room many happy hours had 
been spent when in her early married life the 
gentry had entertained the young Squire of “Ha- 
zeldean” and his winning English wife. 

The contrast between past and present became 
almost too great to be borne ; but a human life was 
in the scale, to be weighed against all of these sad 


*The Nelson House. 


122 


The Griffins 


reflections, and this thought gave her supernatural 
strength. At length the door opened and Captain 
Dashwood entered. 

“Ah! what have we here?” he said. “Two pris- 
oners — one fair lady and a smart negro servant? 
Verily, a combination of ivory and ebony.” 

When he saw how white the face was he stopped 
his jesting, and added courteously: 

“Now, Madame, I must ask you certain ques- 
tions, and if you can explain satisfactorily having 
been found so near our camp, after your man- 
servant here has been searched, you will be re- 
leased.” 

“My mission is an urgent one, and before I can 
answer any questions will you please let me have 
some converse with a surgeon?” 

“Right speedily, Madame, shall your wish be 
granted. Medical attendance is never denied a 
prisoner.” And the order was at once given for 
Surgeon Woodhull’s immediate presence, and also 
that a cup of wine should be handed the prisoner. 
When the surgeon came he pronounced the lady 
to be in need of rest and ordered coffee as well as 
wine to be brought, but Dolly said hurriedly, in an 
undertone : 

“I can tell you neither my name nor where my 
home is. To reach it we must pass the camp where 
my husband and the American army are. It will 
suffice that you know that in my home a British 
officer is sorely wounded, and in proof of what I 


The Griffins 


123 


say I have brought his sword-belt, marked with 
the number of his regiment, and also with his 
blood. See the hole which the ball has made. I 
could not obtain help from an American surgeon 
without causing suspicion to rest on him perhaps, 
or giving up the poor young fellow as a prisoner. 
I will insure your safe return, and we must go at 
once, for he must have been wounded forty-eight 
hours ago. I have trusted myself within your 
lines, surely you will not be less willing to risk 
something for the sake of one of your own men. 
Nay, if you will go with Prince I will remain here 
as hostage, sorely as it may try me. The servant 
whom I have left in charge will admit you to the 
soldier if you will simply call out my name as you 
knock at the trap-door you will see on the east of 
the house.” 

“Nay, Madame, I doubt naught that you have 
told me, and I will obtain a pass to visit a wounded 
soldier outside the camp.” So saying, he ad- 
dressed a few words to the commanding officer and 
left the room. In the course of half an hour he 
returned with the needful passes, and Dolly and 
himself, followed by Prince, made their way to the 
spot where the horses had been left. Prince had 
been thoroughly searched in another apartment, 
and having heard much while in London about the 
British lion, he made sure he would hear its roar 
in their camp, and perhaps see the grand beast 
with ponderous jaws and sharp teeth ready to de- 


124 


The Griffins 


vour all who were opposed to the “Britishers.” 
He believed his mistress was bewitched, and that 
evil spirits of some description had possessed Rip- 
pon Hall ever since the previous night, and had 
driven his mistress to the enemy’s camp to be de- 
voured bodily. In this state of mind he went be- 
fore his examiners. Of course no papers were 
found upon him, so the next step in the proceed- 
ings was to examine him by questions. Prince, 
however, gained confidence each moment as he 
saw around him “only sojers dressed up in red in- 
stead of blue,” in lieu of the wild beast he had 
dreaded, and when the first question was asked : 

“From whence did your mistress come?” 

He replied, “From home, sah.” 

“Where is her home ?” 

“Near the ribber, sah.” 

“Why has she left home?” 

“Ter come ter de camp.” 

“What does she wish in the camp?” 

“Dats mo’ dan I kin tell, sah, ’cause I dunno 
myse’f.” 

“But you must have thought something .” 

“Yes, sah; I bin t’ink she wished ter see Marse 
Sam.” 

“Who is Marse Sam, and where is he?” 

“He is my massa, sah, an’ he ain’t very far off 
frum here, but I don’t jes’ know w’ere ’xac’ly.” 
And so from first to last they could get no answer 


The Griffins 125 

from him that could in any way give them informa- 
tion. 

During the ride back, Dolly told the surgeon all 
that she had divined of the soldier’s wound, etc., 
and received cordial thanks from him for her mis- 
sion which she had accomplished '‘with such mar- 
velous discretion.” 

They arrived at Rippon Hall about sunset and 
the surgeon went at once to the bedside of the 
youth; and Dolly sent Prince to Williamsburg 
with a few lines to Mrs. Griffin, Sr., saying: 

“Please come to me, mother. I am safe and tol- 
erably well, but I need you. Come to-morrow. 
Kiss the bairns for me. I am with respect, 

“Your loving daughter, 

“D. Lenox Grieein ” 

Uncle Seth came to her with a message from 
the surgeon to say that she must rest at once or 
she would be utterly incapable of the help he would 
need from her next day. To-night, with Uncle 
Seth’s aid, he could do all that was necessary for 
the comfort and well-being of the courier. So, 
very thankful that her mission was accomplished, 
the weary little body offered up a fervent prayer 
and fell into a deep sleep, from which Betsey would 
not awake her until a late hour next morning. 
Uncle Seth served breakfast as usual, and reported 
that the ball had been extracted and the patient 
was suffering less. Mrs. Griffin, Sr., had made an 


126 


The Griffins 


early start, and by 12 o’clock she reached Rippon 
Hall. Dolly told her the story of the last forty- 
eight hours, and the old lady said : 

“If you had acted otherwise, my daughter, I 
would not love you as I do.” 

And Dolly, with an inward satisfaction that she 
“had done what she could,” went to her patient’s 
place of refuge, and was greeted with a faint smile 
as he said : 

“So you are really a living personage? When 
you did not come back, I thought you must have 
been a vision which I had seen in my dreams.” 

And then Dolly told him that she had been away 
so long because she had to find a surgeon to at- 
tend his wound; and he turned to the doctor and 
said : 

“Yes, he has been so good to me, and I am not 
in so much pain; but I am very, very glad you 
have come back too ; I was so afraid I would not 
have any more such pleasant dreams.” 

And he fell asleep under the influence of the 
gentle woman’s touch upon his feverish pulse and 
brow. 

Then Dolly left him and sent Prince to the camp 
to tell Colonel Griffin that she was well and that 
she had sent for his mother to bear her company. 
The man-servant brought back a brief note. 

“I am so glad Mamma is with you; you are in 
the safest place in the country now, for trusted and 


The Griffins 


127 


tried troops are around you; nevertheless, I wish 
I could be more at Rippon Hall, for until Mamma 
came you were so lonely. We think the enemy 
will not hold out much longer; until then, be 
brave, my little wife, for you are really under the 
protection of Your husband, 

“Samuel IvEEweeeyn Griffin/' 

And with her daily bulletins from the camp to 
brighten the sad days, the “little wife’' and her 
husband’s mother nursed with devoted care the 
wounded boy, and busied themselves with making 
lint and bandages, for other dear ones might need 
them yet, although the end was so near. But in 
spite of nursing and the surgeon’s skill, the invalid 
did not gain strength, but daily grew more wan, 
and yet his cheerful manner and sunny smile made 
them all hope each day that on the morrow he 
would commence mending and then his restoration 
would be rapid; and in this hope they went on 
working and praying with loving hearts and hands, 
while the short autumn days grew shorter and 
shorter. 


CHAPTER XII 


Dolly Listens to a Touching Story, and has Her Prayer 
Granted, as She Wile “Know Hereafter.” 

“ ’Tis sown in weakness, it is raised in Power, 

Softly the promise floated on the air; 

And the calm stillness of the sunset hour 

Came back responsive to the mourner’s prayer.” 

At last one morning the surgeon looked very 
grave and said : 

“I have done all that was possible, Madame, but 
nothing allays the blood poisoning produced by 
the length of time the ball remained in the wound. 
I will not give up yet, though, for I feel deeply in- 
terested in the lad.” 

Two days after the doctor had first expressed 
his serious fears, Dolly was sitting alone in the 
sick-chamber and picturing to herself the distant 
home in England where loving ones would await in 
vain the coming of the soldier-boy who had gone 
forth with dreams of honor and fame. She thought 
how it would be in Oxford, were one of her 
own brothers thus to die in a foreign land, and all 
unconsciously the tears gathered and one or two 
bright drops fell unheeded by her. Suddenly she 
was startled from her reverie by the touch of the 
soldier’s hand upon her own, and his eyes were 
fixed upon her with an expression of deep earnest- 
ness. Presently he said with a clear and distinct 
voice, yet very feebly : 


The Griffins 


129 


“You have been crying, lady, and I think it is for 
me ; and that the surgeon has told you that I am 
slowly dying. I feel it is true, but I do not suffer, 
I am only so tired. I wish to thank you now for 
all of your goodness to me, and I have something 
which I wish you to send to my home. Please lift 
up my head and take the case you will find there. 
I have kept it hidden, for I will not tell any one but 
you, lady, all that it is to me. Will you open it?” 

Dolly did so, and found a miniature of a bright, 
rosy English girl, with beaming eyes, and hair 
which seemed to have caught a sunbeam in its 
threads. On the reverse side was engraved, 

Given by Lilly May Darcy 
to 

Ralph Howard Townshend, 

July 6th, 1780. 

“Mizpah.” 

In the midst of awful moments, how some tri- 
fling incident in some widely different scene comes 
up before us. So now Dolly recalled the Assembly 
at Tunbridge ; and the soldier was doubtless Mrs. 
Howard’s young brother, and the girl perhaps a 
sister to Lady Lucy. After gazing silently at the 
picture for some time she said : 

“It is a lovely face.” 

“Yes, lady, but not lovelier than she is. I will 
tell you all now before I grow too weak. We 
loved each other always, but were too young to be 
called lovers, until last year, when I was nineteen 

9 


130 


The Griffins 


and Lily seventeen ; then our parents gave consent 
to an engagement. I had just entered the army, 
and when I was ordered off I could not say nay, for 
I felt that it would be dishonorable, and Lilly loved 
me too truly not to enter into my feelings. So I 
came, and have escaped unhurt until last week; 
since then I have known that this laughing face 
would be tearstained. Will you tell her that I 
loved her more than ever, while I was lying here 
with naught to do but think. Tell my mother that 
I tried to do always what she wished. How she 
blessed our love ! I did not neglect my Bible and 
Prayer-book ; and oh ! tell her that I have kept my 
faith and honor bright.” As he said this a glorious 
smile lit up his face, but only for a moment, then 
he said : 

“One word more to my sister — for she suffered 
much and waited long to marry Mr. Howard ; and 
she felt for us. Tell her I have blessed her often 
for her loving sympathy. And now I am so tired 
I will sleep sweetly.” 

He was much exhausted by the effort made to 
make his last wishes known to her; but the sur- 
geon said : 

“ ’Twas better so, as the last few hours would 
be more tranquil if his mind were at rest.” And 
the day dragged its slow length along, and wore 
into afternoon and the afternoon into night, and 
all was quiet save occasional murmurs from the 
sleeping boy. 


The Griffins 


131 

“We have had brave times together, Nellie. 
What, little one, are you giving out? A little lon- 
ger, Nellie, and we will be safe ! — quite safe ! — once 
more on! oh! Nellie, you are bleeding, you are 
falling.” And with a cry of pain he awoke to find 
Dolly bending over him. Just at sunrise he said : 

“Give me one kiss, lady;” and as she pressed her 
lips upon the thin, worn face, he asked “for the 
lady who prayed with him.” 

Mrs. Griffin came and read the commendatory 
prayer, and at its close the only firm “Amen” was 
that from the brave young spirit so near the end of 
its earthly career. A few minutes more passed and 
they caught whisper of — 

“These loving friends — Surgeon — Sister — 
Mother — Tilly — my Saviour;” then as they had 
asked life for him, “Heaven gave him a long life 
even forever and ever.” 

Uncle Seth prepared a grave just where Nellie 
had fallen, under two wide-spreading oaks, a hun- 
dred yards from the entrance to the house. There 
in the twilight they laid the young stranger to rest, 
and Dolly, with pure sweet voice, and Mrs. Griffin, 
read the sublime ritual of the church, while Sur- 
geon Woodhull and Uncle Seth with reverent 
hands filled in the narrow grave where so much of 
tender love and aspiration was forever buried. Did 
I say truly forever? Nay, ’tis but a form of speech, 
for nothing noble, tender, or true is ever lost, 
though it may seem to die; but in the lives of 


132 


The Griffins 


those whom it has blessed here it lives still, and 
multiplies itself, and in its “widening circles” 

“Never stops, until they reach the Everlasting Throne.” 

Soon after these events the surrender at York- 
town took place, and Dolly established herself at 
Hazeldean to await Colonel Griffin’s arrival in the 
home which had been closed for nearly seven 
years; and Uncle Seth, with an efficient corps of 
aids, made Rippon Hall in readiness for the return 
of his master and mistress with their boy, the little 
Thomas, now a manly lad of eight years. And 
when they were gathered all in the large drawing- 
room at Rippon, Dolly told them as much of her 
story as would be of interest, while certain portions 
she retained as being too sacred to be repeated 
save to her own gallant Colonel. 

Corbin explained the mystery of the trap- 
door being found opened. Just before Rippon 
Hall was vacated by them he had tried the lock to 
see that all was right about it, in order to store 
away there, if necessary, such valuables as were 
still left in the house ; finding the key did not turn 
readily, he left it open, intending to have the 
obstruction removed the following morning, but 
he had been called away immediately afterwards, 
and matters of such grave import followed that all 
comparatively unimportant affairs were lost sight 
of and he had forgotten the trap-door entirely. 

When Dolly told Colonel Griffin her whole story 


The Griffins 


133 


in a simple, touching manner, man and soldier 
though he was, he could not listen without emo- 
tion, and when she had concluded he said: 

“Ah ! my little wife, you acted wisely and rightly ; 
and as soon as these estates can be put in proper 
order and things in the country are more settled, 
we will sail for England and you will have the 
opportunity then to fulfill the wishes of the young 
courier, and we will carry the sword which he had 
borne untarnished, and which Uncle Seth has 
wound around with a long lock from Nellie’s mane. 
’Twas a thoughtful act on his part, and shows no 
little delicacy of feeling. I think Corbin would 
like to make him free at once, because he behaved 
so well throughout the whole of this long, weari- 
some struggle.” 

And now while Corbin Griffin and Colonel Sam- 
uel were restored to home and fireside, it be- 
came necessary for Judge Cyrus to remove with 
his wife and children to Philadelphia, for he 
had been elected to Congress. He had worked 
hard and faithfully at the bar, and on the bench 
since “Yorktown,” and he had led the home- 
guard out to the defense of the “Peninsula,” and 
done good service. 

“For in faith the blue coat suits me better than 
the black gown,” he always maintained; and now 
his work went on, while the soldier could rest on 
his hardly-earned laurels. The move was a most 
beneficial one for Lady Christine, whose health 


134 


The Griffins 


had been somewhat impaired by the change from 
her “native heath” to the low, malarious district of 
Tide-water Virginia. The services of her church 
could there be fully enjoyed, so life in the aristo- 
cratic circles of the “Quaker City” was by no 
means distasteful to her ladyship. Twice every 
year her father-confessor had come from Philadel- 
phia to celebrate the mass, and Judge Griffin 
always received him courteously, saying, however, 
to his wife : 

“I think his reverence must have more knowl- 
edge of your faults than I have ever gained, lady 
mine. Were I your confessor methinks the sins 
would be very quickly numbered.” 

But the children were, by mutual agreement, 
baptized and reared in the doctrines and by the lit- 
urgy of the Church of England, which was the 
more easily accomplished in Williamsburg, where 
neither Roman-Catholicism on the one hand nor 
Presbyterianism on the other had gained any foot- 
hold. So John Stuart and Samuel Stuart, with 
the little Mary and Louise, went every Sunday to 
the church with their father, and the mother 
thought with kindness of the faith which her hus- 
band and children held. 


CHAPTER XIII. 


The Old World Once More, Where we Meet with Warm 
Welcomes from the Friends of “Long Ago.” 

“So weeping, smiling, greet I thee my earth.” 

Several years elapsed before Colonel Griffin 
could get his estate and Corbin's into such order 
that they could be carried on without interrup- 
tion during his absence; but at last, in ’84, Haz- 
eldean was closed, and he sailed from Yorktown 
with Dolly and the two children for London. Only 
a very brief time was spent in the metropolis, for 
Oxford was the point upon which all longing was 
centered in Dolly’s heart, and ’tis best to draw the 
veil of silence over such a meeting as took place 
between the long-severed parents and child. Time 
had dealt very lightly with the Reverend Doctor 
and his wife. In the bracing English climate peo- 
ple do not grow old quickly, and the only severe 
trial they had ever had was the war, which had cut 
them off from Dolly ; and now all was happiness at 
the Vicarage, and only on one point was there dis- 
sension. The little Elizabeth, fairer by far than 
her mother had ever been, ruled her grandfather 
with despotic sway, and Master Braxton only had 
to go to grandmamma to have his pockets filled 
with buns for himself and companions; so the 
little mother was forced to interpose sometimes, 


136 


The Griffins 


and order Miss Elizabeth down from her grand- 
father’s shoulder after a half hour of patient en- 
durance, and to protest that Master Braxton 
should not consume a three days’ stock of buns in 
one morning. However, if Elizabeth’s little feet 
lagged wearily on the homeward way after service, 
up she was carried like a little princess on a throne, 
although the Vicar may have had several services 
during the day; and if Braxton came, in all the 
pride of his eight years, and was “awful hungry,” 
down went grandmamma’s work and the fatigued 
young gentleman’s hunger was amply provided 
for. Dolly’s scruples were very much exercised 
as to the future of two such spoiled children, but 
Colonel Griffin said: 

“Never mind, little wife, no harm can come to 
any one in the atmosphere of Hazeldean Vicarage, 
I think. If Elizabeth be no worse than the two 
generations of this family I have known, and if 
that little rogue Braxton does no more harm than 
to eat his grandmother’s buns, thereby giving her 
more pleasure than he receives, — we may be well 
content. Contact with other boys will knock much 
of the selfishness out of him ; and if he lives, man 
will do the rest.” 

Notwithstanding which, ’twas with many mis- 
givings that Mrs. Griffin left them at Oxford when 
she went for a short visit to London to Mrs. Town- 
shend and Mr. and Mrs. Howard. Lilly Darcy 
lived now almost constantly with Ralph’s mother, 


The Griffins 


137 


and there Dolly met her, and agreed with the 
lover’s verdict, that “the picture was not so win- 
ning as she was.” Dolly stayed long enough with 
them to tell them over and over again of the boy’s 
last days. Lilly with her buried love was happier 
in her sorrow maybe than was the Lady Ashton 
with the daily burden of an ill-assorted marriage 
to bear. 

In 1785 the Congress was removed to New 
York, and we learn from the Chronicles that in ’87 
it was organized by the election of Cyrus Griffin, 
of Virginia, as “President;” and we have some 
pleasing extracts of letters written, descriptive of 
people and customs in New York during these 
years. On every Tuesday a state dinner was given 
by the President. About twenty guests usually 
sat down to table, and Raleigh made a very brave 
head-waiter. 

The winter of ’87 and ’88 was the gayest that 
New York had seen since the first clouds of war 
had appeared. The great minds that had framed 
the Constitution were many of them now in New 
York, in different official capacities, or wielding 
high social and intellectual influence. The list is 
too long to be cited here. Mirabeau spoke of them 
as “a company of demi-gods,” and the great Wil- 
liam Pitt exclaimed: 

“I must declare that in all my reading and obser- 
vation, — and it has been my favorite study; I have 
read Thucydides, and meditated the rise of the 


138 


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master states of the world, — for solidity of reason- 
ing, force of sagacity, and wisdom of conclusion, 
under such a complication of difficult circum- 
stances, no body of men can stand before the 
National Congress of Philadelphia.” Many of 
these same minds had governed the convention 
which had adjourned in September, 1786. 

Perhaps no one who was entertained in the Pres- 
ident’s home gave the host and hostess more pleas- 
ure than did a young French gentleman, Brissot de 
Warville. Intelligent, handsome, enthusiastic, dis- 
creet, and an ardent lover of liberty, he inclined 
most favorably to America, and had come with 
letters of introduction from the Marquis de La- 
Fayette, which served as an “open sesame” to any 
home in this country. 

Years after, in Paris, his sister showed “the 
Presidentess” a letter which he had written 
describing one of the “Tuesday” dinners of which 
we have made mention.”* 

“Mr. Griffin is a Virginian of very good abilities, 
of an agreeable figure, affable and polite. I saw 
at his house, at dinner, seven or eight women, all 
dressed in great hats, plumes, etc. It was with 
pain that I marked much of pretension in some of 
these women. One acted the giddy, vivacious; 
another the woman of sentiment. This last had 
many pruderies and grimaces. Two among them 
had their bosoms very naked. I was scandalized 


♦These are exact copies of the original letters. 


The Griffins 


139 


at this indecency among republicans. A President 
of Congress is far from being surrounded with the 
splendor of Eastern monarchs; and so much the 
better. He is not durable in his station, and so 
much the better. He does not give pompous din- 
ners ; he never forgets that he is a simple citizen, 
and will soon return to the station of one ; and so 
much the better. He has fewer parasites and less 
means of corruption. I remarked that his table 
was free from many usages observed elsewhere; 
no fatiguing presentations, no toasts, so annoying 
in a numerous society. Eittle wine was drunk 
after the women had retired. These traits will 
give you an idea of the temperance of this country 
— temperance, the leading virtue of republicans.” 

Another letter of the times says : 

“The President is said to be a worthy man ; his 
wife is a Scotch woman with the title of Lady 
Christiana Griffin. She is out of health, but 
appears to be a friendly-disposed woman; we are 
engaged to dine there next Tuesday.” 

For the sake of truth we must give both sides 
of the picture, and add one more extract which 
gives evidence that the writer was differently 
impressed. Though of course there were men such 
as she describes, in prominent positions, the result 
proved them to be largely in the minority, and 
there was no cause to fear “for the country.” 

“We have dined to-day at President Griffin’s, 
with a company of twenty-two, including many 


140 


The Griffins 


members of Congress, etc. Had you been present 
you would have trembled for your country, to have 
seen, heard, and observed the men who are its 
rulers. Very different they were, I believe, in 
times past. All were now high upon the question 
before them; some were for it, some against it; 
and there were very few whose behavior bore 
many marks of wisdom.” 

Among these few we believe the President was 
numbered. We must regard this letter, too, with 
due allowance for the fact that the lady who wrote 
it was warmly attached to the Federalist party, 
while Democratic sentiments were now beginning 
to be uttered. 

On one occasion M. Brissot de Warville sat on 
the right of the Presidentess; and with French 
suavity was pleased to compliment a dish peculiar 
to Virginia, and inquired if Madame, the Presi- 
dentess, had learned its secret within the walls of 
St. Omers?” 

“For, although I have not tasted it before, still 
it has a flavor of a French cuisine.” 

“No, Monsieur, our own Virginia servants came 
with us to New York, and truly their skill aston- 
ished me when I first came to the colony. Aunt 
Courtenay is an African princess, and her manner 
is really superior to those of most of her race ; she 
married our other cook, Uncle Paul, and a little 
girl, near the age of my eldest daughter, was born 
on the night of Lord Cornwallis’ surrender. The 


The Griffins 


141 

little mistress and maid are warmly attached to 
each other. Not long ago it was deemed expedient 
by Courtenay mere to punish the little negress, 
but her loud sobs reached Mary’s ear; she sprang 
from the nursery and darted to the kitchen, where 
she placed her arms around little Courtenay and 
said : 

“ ‘Don’t touch her again. She belongs to me, 
and my father will not allow his slaves to be un- 
justly whipped; neither will I.” 

“Courtenay laid aside the whip, and taking the 
little figure — whose flashing eyes and flaming 
cheeks made her a very pretty wee picture — gently 
in her arms, said : 

“ ‘Come, little missy, and let me take you to 
your mother.’ 

“So she brought her to me and gave me an 
account of the whole scene; and Mary became 
somewhat pacified by the promise that her little 
maid should wait upon her as soon as she was made 
tidy.” 

Thus M. Brissot de Warville learned something 
of “high life below stairs” and discovered that the 
relation between master and slave was not gen- 
erally such as in his ardent love for humanity he 
had imagined it to be. While this homely conver- 
sation was in progress at one end of the table, the 
momentous questions at issue occupied the graver 
thoughts and converse of others, and the President 
said : 


142 


The Griffins 


“It needs no prophet’s eye to see into the future. 
We have but to look back, and we find that as 
nations became wealthy, more and more of luxury 
was demanded^ and although we in the colonies 
are now content with simple elegance, ’twill be less 
satisfactory each year, and our children and grand- 
children one hundred years hence will increase 
their wants as they increase their wealth. As with 
the individual, so will it be with the nation, and 
‘pomp and circumstance’ will then surround the 
nation’s Chief Executive.” 

The young Frenchman answered sadly: 

“I would my people would listen to moderation, 
which your words seem to advocate in all things, 
Mr. President; but in their clamor for a Republic 
such as has been successfully brought to the point 
of being inaugurated in America, where all will be 
liberty, equality, and brotherly love, they will shed 
much blood uselessly because of their immoderate 
views.” 

In America, in ’88, the Constitution was adopted 
by ten of the thirteen States; and great was the 
rejoicing thereat. “The splendid genius of Hamil- 
ton, the calm and judicial logic of Jay, and the 
invincible common sense of Madison” had brought 
about, in large measure, this happy result. The 
next step was the election of President and Vice- 
President of the Republic, and Washington, the 
man who had commanded the army and presided 
in the convention of ’86, was naturally the people’s 


The Griffins 


143 


choice. From Mount Vernon to New York his 
progress was one continued ovation. On the 
bridge across which he had retreated before Corn- 
wallis on the evening preceding the successful 
affair at Princeton, a triumphal arch was sus- 
pended, supported by thirteen columns and 
inscribed with the sentence, “The Defender of the 
Mothers will be the Protector of the Daughters,” 
and the dates in golden letters of his military 
movements around Trenton. At New York his 
sloop was met by one bearing a full chorus of well- 
trained voices, who welcomed him with an ode to 
the tune of “God Save the King,” while thousands 
of people of all ages lined the shores. So with the 
streets of the city when they were reached. Yet 
the elected President wrote of this ovation, 

“The reverse of all this may be the case after all 
my efforts to do good,” and his sensations were “as 
painful as they were pleasing.” 

On Thursday, the 30th of April, a salute was 
fired from Bowling Green, services were held in 
all the churches, the military marched with “float- 
ing banners” from their quarters, and the bands 
played their gayest and most martial strains. In 
front of Federal Hall, an imposing building, the 
troops formed a line on each side of the way, 
through which the President, with his attendants, 
was conducted to the Senate Chamber, thence to 
the outside gallery. There the Bible was raised, 


144 


The Griffins 


he kissed the sacred page and said audibly, and as 
if offering a fervent prayer, 

“I swear; so help me God!” 

The Chancellor said only three words, “It is 
done;” then waving his hand to the multitude, 
exclaimed in a loud voice, 

“Long live George Washington, President of 
the United States.” 

And the welkin rang again and again with 
applause, while they returned to the Senate Cham- 
ber, where to the assembled members of Congress, 
and other dignitaries, the President delivered his 
“Inaugural Address,” marked by a spirit of deep, 
self-distrust, but firm reliance on the “Most High 
who governs in the kingdoms of men;” then they 
proceeded to St. Pauls, where Bishop Provoost 
read suitable prayers. A grand display of fire- 
works in the evening concluded the auspicious day. 

A week later a grand ball was given, at which 
the ladies were dressed “with consummate taste 
and elegance.” Among the list of “distinguished 
women” present we find the names of Lady Chris- 
tine Griffin and Mrs. Bishop Provoost. “The 
President danced a cotillion with Mrs. Peter Van 
Amburgh Livingston, and Mrs. Maxwell, and with 
the latter in a minuet.” He had known this lady 
well at Morristown. As each lady and gentleman 
passed in, a beautiful fan was presented by a page 
to every lady. They had been made in Paris, and 


The Griffins 


145 

contained medallion portraits of Washington in 
profile, and were attached to ivory frames. 

In the minuet M. Brissot de Warville led out 
the Lady Christine, who, in spite of her slight 
lameness, danced “with marvelous grace.” This 
was the last time that they met in America, for the 
young Girondist was impelled to return to France 
because of the grave aspect of affairs which threat- 
ened the country of his birth with fearful carnage. 
When he announced his intention to her Ladyship 
and spoke of the probability of not again meeting 
her, she replied : 

“But, Monsieur, we will hope to meet you ere 
very long in Paris. Now that General Washing- 
ton has been inaugurated, Judge Griffin has deter- 
mined to go abroad. He has had much severe 
mental strain upon him for the past fifteen years, 
with but slight intervals of rest. It is due that 
every one should pay homage to the President; 
but apart from this, Judge Griffin’s obligations are 
of a personal nature, for he has been always treated 
with the fullest confidence and esteem by his 
Excellency, and has enjoyed his friendship for 
many years past. This duty over, there is naught 
to prevent our return to the old world again, and 
I am all impatience to see my own rugged shores 
once more. After staying for a while at Traquain 
House and in Edinboro we will come to ‘La Belle 
France’ and to dear St. Omers.” 


10 


146 


The Griffins 


Soon after the arrival of Mrs. Washington, when 
the ceremonious visits to her had been duly paid 
by all of the prominent women of the metropolis, 
Judge Griffin carried out his intention of visiting 
Scotland, England and France; and if any linger- 
ing bitterness of feeling had lurked in the old 
Earl’s heart, ’twas dispelled as Judge Griffin said 
while leading in his little flock : 

“I took from you one treasure, my Lord; see, 
I have brought back the original and four lesser 
jewels.” 

And the four young “heretics” held high carni- 
val, and brought back sunshine and brightness to 
the gloomy old castle, which needed brightening 
sorely, Louise having become almost a recluse in 
her love for the Roman Faith; while Charles, in a 
very reduced state of health, continued his practice 
of the law in the Parliament House at Edinboro. 
Lady Louisa Stuart Campbell was not yet too old 
to enjoy the society of the young, and once more, 
at the joyful Christmas-tide in 1792, they were all 
assembled at Traquair House. Shortly after, 
Judge Griffin and the Lady Christine left Edinboro 
for Paris. 

In Paris their friendship was soon renewed with 
M. Brissot, and many evenings were spent 
together, for De Warville would know even more 
than he had yet done of American theories of gov- 
ernment. The apartments occupied by Judge 
Griffin were on the Champs Elysees, and the fair 


The Griffins 


147 


Palace of the Tuileries loomed up before them as 
on a warm August evening they were earnestly 
discussing the troublous times. 

“How all is changed,” said Christine, “since we 
were wont to pray so fervently for his most Chris- 
tian Majesty at St. Omers; now they thirst for his 
blood.” 

“To that I never will give consent, my Lady,” 
said De Warville. “I am earnestly in favor of a 
Republic, but would not be a murderer to obtain 
it. In this attempt to save him, I may forfeit my 
own life.” 

“I think I am never to be free from war,” her 
Ladyship answered wearily. “In Scotland, during 
my youth; in America, during my early married 
life, and now in France, ’tis all the same.” And 
the Lady went each day to the church and told her 
beads with fervor, while praying for peace and 
prosperity in the far-off home, and in the land so 
filled with the turbulent spirit of the times. At 
last it became so wild and desperate that they 
deemed it best to leave Paris, yet a strange fasci- 
nation held them bound there somewhat longer; 
and the friendship for De Warville no doubt influ- 
enced them in no small degree in remaining. The 
beautiful city seemed formed by nature to be the 
abiding place of all that conduces to human hap- 
piness. At once the center of its children’s faith 
and of the arts and sciences, yet Notre Dame was 
to be desecrated and the chef d’oeuvres and rare 


148 


The Griffins 


MSS. to suffer destruction by the worthless mob 
in their wild clamor for '‘Liberty, Equality, Fra- 
ternity.” Instead of accomplishing this end, they 
brought about Chains, Inequality, and Damning 
Hate from man to his fellow-man. The provoca- 
tion had been great, but out of all proportion was 
the measure of retribution to the guilty, while the 
innocent suffered with them. On an evening in 
October, just prior to their departure from Paris, 
Judge Griffin looked unusually grave, and said to 
his wife: 

“I am very uneasy about De Warville. There 
is some plan on foot to arrest him, and I cannot 
devise any scheme for his safe exit from Paris ; 
others of his friends are hopeless. Can you not 
think of some means which we can present to him 
when he comes here this evening?” 

The Lady Christine planned, and re-planned, 
but all of no avail, and very soon De Warville 
came. His manner was as composed as usual, yet 
he was somewhat paler than was his wont as he 
greeted them, and then said: 

“I have been followed to-night, and an effort — 
well organized, I cannot doubt — will be made to 
arrest me. I think this is the last evening we will 
spend together.” 

"Surely they will not search our house,” said 
Judge Griffin ; "we are above all suspicion as Amer- 
icans.” 

"Ah! little do you know them. Their detec- 
tives are everywhere, and if they mean to strike the 


The Griffins 


149 


blow, be sure it will fall, no matter where I may 
be. See! as I speak one is stationed under the 
tree just in front, and you will find every corner of 
the house will be guarded ; even the young soldier 
who was flirting with your ladyship’s maid as I 
came in is no doubt one of their emissaries.” 

It was as he said, and watching from the win- 
dows of the salon, they saw one by one a cordon 
of men surrounding the house on all sides. ’Twas 
useless to attempt concealment, even if hospitable 
shelter could be given for one night. The next 
morning, with a “Pardonnez-moi Monsieur,” De 
Warville would be carried off to prison, and from 
thence almost certainly to the guillotine, for his 
presence in the house once being known, his cap- 
ture once resolved upon, there was no loop-hole 
of escape save by some stratagem so simple that it 
would disarm all suspicion. So the time wore on 
to nearly midnight, and still the young soldier 
flirted with Violette. De Warville gave some 
little trinkets of value to the Lady Christine for 
his sister, and expressed his conviction that his 
moderate views would be the cause of his death. 

The Lady Christine suddenly exclaimed : 

“Only do as I wish and I think all will be well 
yet. The great Cardinal Richelieu did not disdain 
to play the fox when the courage of the lion would 
no longer suffice. So rest in peace, notre ami; 
stay at the window here in full view of your ene- 
mies until I whistle a signal for you to come in the 
salle a manger; then follow my directions. 


CHAPTER XIV. 


Lady Christine Appears in a New Role; a Short Disguise 
Accomplishes Long Results ; we Take a Parting 
Glance at New York. 

“When the Lion’s skin ’s too short, then, play the Fox.” 

The Lady Christine had observed the uniform 
belonging to Le Cadet (their French serving-man) 
in a small apartment adjoining their own sleeping- 
room. Thither he had brought it that the arch- 
coquette Violette might adorn it with a tri-colored 
rosette. In the long evening just passed Lady 
Christine had noticed that the uniform worn by the 
police was similar in color to Le Cadet’s, and by a 
little skilful management the cut of the coats could 
be made to resemble also, and on this simple cir- 
cumstance she had planned De Warville’s escape. 
She felt very wearied from the mental strain under 
which she had been kept, and pleaded that weari- 
ness now as an excuse for leaving the two gentle- 
men, in a tone intended to be audible to the sen- 
tinel, who kept his gaze steadily upon the house 
for the most part, although occassionally drooping 
his head a little as if overcome with fatigue ; this 
Christine had also made note of. When she 
reached her room she secured the uniform; in a 
short time had made the necessary alterations, and 
donned it very quickly. She then wrote on a card : 

“Disguise yourself in this uniform and pass out 


The Griffins 


151 

of the house; the cordon will be entirely deceived 
by the dress, and for your safety after passing 
them you will provide easily.” 

Having written this and placed it in the coat 
pocket, she went noiselessly down a private stair- 
way, which was seldom used, and very dark; 
reaching the foot, she was near the entrance to the 
street. The old sentinel had turned, and was 
directly facing the house ; she must bide her time 
After several minutes of anxious waiting, his head 
fell wearily over his gun, and turning from the 
house he bent forward as if nearly exhausted. A 
moment later he was startled by a touch, and a 
young officer, slightly lame, stood by him and said : 

“Do not sleep upon the watch, good man, guard 
the house ; I am going in on important business.” 

The watch gave a respectful salute and mur- 
mured that he was keeping a steady eye upon the 
window where the prisoner was sitting ; only for a 
short time had he rested himself by leaning upon 
his gun. Without replying to this, Christine rang 
the bell, inquired for Judge Griffin, was admitted 
to the entry, and there awaited with the door 
opened so that all which passed could be observed 
from without. When Judge Griffin came, she 
explained to him her design in appearing in such 
strange guise. It was that when De Warville left 
in the same disguise, he might be mistaken for the 
officer she now represented, and so pass unmo- 
lested. Then aloud she said in pure French: 


152 


The Griffins 


“Well, sir; I will retire to the salle a manger,” 
which she then entered from the hall. 

A few minutes later she had resumed her own 
dress and placed the uniform and the note for M. 
Brissot in the salle a manger, having entered it 
now by means of a side-door not seen from the 
street. On hearing a very low whistle, the pre- 
concerted signal, Judge Griffin asked M. Brissot de 
Warville to go with him to the next room. The 
sentinel in the street hearing this thought the prey 
secure now, for had not his officer just entered the 
same apartment? In a short time De Warville 
walked from the house, handed a duly-signed 
document to the cordon, — “retire and await 
further orders,” — passed on, and was soon out of 
all immediate danger. A half hour later Le Cadet 
was instructed to close the house for the night. 

Judge Griffin and Lady Christine left Paris the 
succeeding day. Not until the Chronicles were 
opened and read was it known by whose order the 
cordon was relieved from duty ! 

A few years ago, in the same trunk which con- 
tained the remaining Chronicles, a bundle of fine 
clothing was found, and in a woman’s hand was 
written on its cover: 

“Suit worn by our valued friend M. Brissot de 
Warville on the occasion of his last visit to us in 
Paris. It was stored away immediately with 
Judge Griffin’s best suits, so that no trace of him 
could be found in our house.” 


The Griffins 


153 


“A gown for Madame,” brought by a small 
messenger next morning, proved to be Le Cadet’s 
uniform, which was restored to its original shape 
and replaced before it had been missed. Thus 
was the escape of the young Girondist effected by 
a woman’s wit. At Calais they met with M. Bris- 
sot de Warville, who had come to bid them fare- 
well. As they parted his last words were, “ I will 
continue to oppose the King’s murder steadily, 
even to the end; and when you hear that all is 
over with me, as I feel assured will be the 
case ere long, it will be a pleasing thought that 
your friendship saved me, for a time at least, to 
urge my countrymen to toleration.” 

In January, 1793, the blow he had striven to 
avert fell upon the King, and not being yet satis- 
fied, the fierce “Mountain” or extreme Republican 
party swept away the “Plain,” so called from its 
weakness, and fixed their vengeance upon the 
Girondists. These were composed principally of 
young gentlemen from the Gironde, who were, like 
their leader, temperate in their views. They were 
arrested to the number of twenty-one, tried and 
convicted of treason, and in October suffered 
death upon the guillotine. 

Very soon after, Judge Griffin decided to return 
to Virginia, leaving Jack and Stuart at Edinboro 
University. 

Some time previous, Colonel Griffin and Dolly 
had returned to America, leaving Braxton in Eng- 


154 


The Griffins 


land with his grandparents. They left England 
with much regret, but when the beautiful old Rip- 
pon Hall and the Cottage of Hazeldean came in 
sight from the York, as it beat its azure waves 
upon the white beach, Dolly felt unfeignedly 
thankful that they were once more to enjoy their 
own home in peace and prosperity. 

However, as the little Elizabeth grew into 
womanhood, it was not with regret that her par- 
ents availed of the opportunity of Colonel Griffin’s 
election to Congress to show her something of the 
“great world,” and 1793 found them in Philadel- 
phia. 

Judge Griffin was returned to Congress shortly 
after his arrival, and thus after many long years of 
separate lines of duty they found themselves as 
they were wont to be in boyhood, “side by side and 
shoulder to shoulder.” The best idea we can gain 
of life at that time in the Capital is in the letters 
which were then written. 

Letters from Thomas Griffin , Jr., to Jack. 

“New York, 1793. 

“Dear Jack: 

“You may be very grateful for a letter from me ; 
but, I am in New York on a visit to Uncle Samuel, 
and I think you will like to hear something of life 
here; so now is the time to tell you; next year 
there will not be any life to write about; why? 
because the Capital is to be removed to Philadel- 


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155 


phia ! Well ! let’s make the most of this year then ; 
and begin with New Year’s day: It is a fashion 
here to visit on that day, so the streets were quite 
gay with the number of vehicles, etc. On Friday, 
Mrs. Washington always holds a levee, but, on this 
Friday, Jan. 1st it was more beautiful than usual, 
and I enjoyed the grand folks and pretty young 
women very much; only the time was too short; 
for since the President’s ill-health, he keeps early 
hours. At nine o’clock Mrs. Washington rose and 
said : 

“ ‘The General always retires at 9 o’clock, and I 
usually precede him;’ then every one left immed- 
iately. I must tell you of a visit the Indians made 
here in the summer; they were all in their Indian 
dress, and attended a public dinner, where they 
sang songs, and made orations in reply to the 
‘white man;’ afterwards, some important treaty 
was made with them, they smoked a pipe of peace, 
and sang a song of peace, and thus they became the 
friends of the United States. They were carried 
to the City Hall, and there the full length portrait 
of the President, astonished them very much, but, 
when they touched the cold canvas, they started 
back in disgust, as if they had touched some dead 
thing! yet, each one wanted to make the experi- 
ment. Mr. Trumbull, the great artist, was very 
anxious to paint portraits of some of these chiefs, 
for they are really remarkable for their dignity and 
‘worthy to be placed by the Roman Senators,’ yet, 


156 


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they feared some magic in the art which had pro- 
duced another ‘Great Father/ so like the President 
himself, and would not consent to have their por- 
traits taken. The great Chateaubriand, has been 
here recently; I believe he will spend much time 
among these Indian tribes, and then perhaps, when 
he returns to France he will write some beautiful 
things about them. Congress adjourned in 
August, and will meet again in Philadelphia; they 
say Uncle Cyrus will be returned from Williams- 
burg, when he comes back from Scotland. How 
is my little pet, Mary ? 

“Well! I suppose you are studying very hard 
at Edinboro — I have finished at William and Mary, 
and am to go next year to the Pennsylvania Uni- 
versity. We are all going to ‘Mountain Way’ in a 
few days, where we will stay until we go to Phila- 
delphia. 

“I have written you a real school-boy's letter; 
send me an answer promptly. 

“Yours faithfully, 

“Thomas Griffin. 

“P. S. — Do you know that there is talk of 
removing the Capital after ten years to Conogo- 
cheague, on the Potomac? It will be very nice to 
have it so near us, but, the whole city will have to 
be built ; there isn’t anything now, but wood-land. 
So for the next ten years, I suppose Philadelphia 
will be the spot. Uncle Samuel’s house here, is in 
white Conduit House, near the Hospital. I sup- 


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157 


pose you have had enough of this New Year letter, 
for doubtless in the old, old Capital town of Scot- 
land there is so much to interest, that you look 
with disdain on the 'Land of your sires/ but don’t 
do so I ask, for, we have as much right now to be 
proud of the New Country, as of the old; and I 
think my father does wisely to send me to one of 
our own Universities as I have no near relatives 
over in Great Britain. 

"Elizabeth is a real beauty and I love her as if 
she were my sister ; she is not a young lady yet, 
being only sixteen; but she will attend balls, etc., 
next winter, and when she does will produce no 
slight sensation in that world of beauty. ’Tis hard 
to imagine that there are finer women in Philadel- 
phia than here, yet, I hear on all sides that it is so, 
and I am therefore all impatience to reach that 
city ; but in the meantime, in Virginia, I can I think 
find ample enjoyment for the next few months. 
Good-bye again. 

"(To Master J. Stuart Griffin.)” 


CHAPTER XV. 


In Which we Pay a Visit to Philadelphia, Along With 
Many Other Great Folk, and Behold — 

“That loveliness ever 
In motion which plays, 

Iyike the light upon autumn’s 
Soft shadowy days.” 

The next year found the Capital established in 
Philadelphia, and we refer to other letters for an 
account of its society and beauty. 

“To Braxton Griffin. 

“Philadelphia, Dec. ’93. 

“Dear Braxton: 

“Even in the whirl of life here, I must find time 
to send a letter to the dear Vicarage of Hazeldean. 
I address it to you, sir, in respect to your fifteen 
years, but ’tis for the whole household; how dif- 
ferent life is here ! Do you think grand-papa could 
recognize the little nine-year old girl who sat upon 
his shoulder, in the tall young woman of seventeen, 
who goes to balls, etc., and has beaus? (often 
bores.) I have also some very warm friends of 
my own sex ; Miss White, whose father is a lead- 
ing loyalist, will be here a portion of this winter. 
(Mamma cannot help liking the tories you know.) 
Martha Jefferson, of Virginia, is as Mr. Randolph 
declares The sweetest young creature/ and 
although her father is a leading democrat, and 
mine retains many old fashioned ideas, (which 


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iS9 


Mamma fosters very carefully) we love each other 
in spite of this ; altho’ she is several years older 
than I am. The most beautiful women in the civi- 
lized world are to be found here; even Mamma 
says that the Duchess of Devonshire (the most 
noted English beauty,) is lacking in the delicacy 
of the American woman, and the French noblemen 
who have been here, all say the same thing. An 
American beauty dressed a la Parisienne, is not 
excelled in any country ever, and rarely equalled. 
The most beautiful woman married or single in 
Philadelphia is Mrs. Bingham ; she was Miss Wil- 
ling — a niece of Mrs. Byrd, of Westover. Mamma 
saw her sister (I think) at Lord Dunmore’s ball in 
Williamsburg; Mrs. Bingham has been much in 
London and Paris, and was always spoken of in 
the latter place as 'La Belle Americaine.’ 

"A grand ball will be given there next week, and 
I am to wear the blue satin quilted petticoat 
Grand-mamma Braxton sent for my seventeenth 
birth-day, with an overskirt of velvet one shade 
darker, (but what is the use of talking to a boy of 
dress ?) Thomas will be my partner ; now do not 
shake your very wise head at Jack and Stuart, for 
in truth he takes me in lieu of a sister, which he 
stands greatly in need of, and I enjoy having an 
elder brother to do my bidding; for even if I am 
still single when you come from Oxford, I will be 
too old by far to dance — why ’twill be at least six 
years before you can be graduated, and then I will 


i6o 


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be an old maiden of twenty-four ! how horrible to 
be too old to dance ! but there are so many clever 
unmarried women here, one feels it can’t be very 
dreadful to grow old as they have done. And in 
England how charming Mamma’s old acquaintance 
Miss Burney is, and she must be about thirty-five 
now, only a little younger than Mamma herself. 
I hear a ring at the bell, and I know Mamma will 
send for me to come into the parlor; so whisper- 
ing to you that I am longing for a gallop from 
Williamsburg to Hazeldean, and a toss in the surf 
of our own blue York River, (while I might even 
be tempted to make some sand biscuits,) I will 
stop. 

“Can you imagine me a woman grown? well, 
others at least find me old enough to be visited, 
danced with, etc. 

“There is a great deal of elegance here — more 
than in New York, — (so you see I am old enough 
to discriminate). Here comes Mamma. Love to 
every one at Hazeldean. Kiss Grand-papa and 
Grand-mamma; if you have not outgrown the 
fashion. Love to Jack and Stuart when you see 
them. Tell them to be as much charmed with 
London and Edinboro as Papa and Uncle Cyrus 
were, when they were young men of fashion. Now 
they are so sober and particular; at least I suppose 
Uncle Cyrus is, as Papa and himself usually agree. 


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161 

I think he will be in Congress when he comes home 
next year. Good-bye for the present. 

“Yours lovingly, E.” 

“Philadelphia, Feb. 29th, ’94. 

“My dear Son : 

“Elizabeth sent you a letter last month, and I 
will write now our weekly bulletin ; as your father 
will send you his usual admonitory epistle next 
week, I will confine my letter to a description of a 
very beautiful ball at which your sister made her 
debut, on Thursday evening. She tells me that 
she has already spoken to you of Mrs. Bingham’s 
singular beauty, and fascinating manner; she was 
our hostess. Mr. Bingham’s new house is a copy 
of the Duke of Manchester’s, Manchester Square, 
London ; it is somewhat larger than the original ; 
a fine drive leads up in two semi-circles to the door, 
which is raised only about two feet from the 
ground; the entrance-hall is large and on one 
side is the drawing-room, into which a conserva- 
tory opens ; on the other side are the dining-room 
and a library, which is well filled with choice books. 
Beautiful works of art are to be seen everywhere, 
and the walls are hung with rare paintings; the 
second floor is reached by a white marble stair- 
case, ascending from either side of the hall ; on this 
floor are the dancing and card-rooms, which look 
down upon the conservatory. Nothing I have 
ever seen was more brilliant than the whole enter- 


]i 


162 


The Griffins 


tainment. The Mansion and Mistress were aptly 
fitted for each other, and beauty, wealth and refine- 
ment have combined to make each almost perfect. 
Among the young women present I saw none 
more fair than your sister ; as Thomas and herself 
danced the Minuet together, I thought of the first 
measure I tread with your father at Tunbridge 
twenty-one years ago nearly. Thomas resembles 
his Uncle very much, but Elizabeth is far hand- 
somer than her mother ever was. [Master Brax- 
ton here says to himself, “The little mother is 
fair even now.”] 

“There is an excellent company now playing 
here under Mr. Wignell’s management at the 
Theatre; one of the actors named Harwood has 
married a grand-daughter of Dr. Franklin. Mrs. 
Oldnixon is the wife of Sir John Oldnixon; she 
has some leading parts to play ; he was at one time 
as great a beau at Bath as Nash, now he is a 
market gardener, and his wife comes to the 
play-house in the same cart in which he brings 
his vegetables to the market ! ‘Sic transit gloria 
hominumf Mrs. Whitlock, another of the caste, 
is a sister of Mrs. Siddons, but cannot equal her 
sister in tragedy; who can in this day or genera- 
tion? 

“The Theatre itself is a very fine building as 
large as Covent Garden; we have been several 
times to the play, as we do not wish Elizabeth to 
go without either one or both of her parents ; the 


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1O3 


last time, Mr. Gatliff a young English gentleman 
accompanied us; he has pleasing manners and 
address. Not content with the theatre, the young 
woman (who has been somewhat spoiled ever since 
we went to England) urged her father to take her 
to the circus ; there her delight was great in watch- 
ing Riddick’s beautiful riding; first with two, then 
with four, then with six horses, all well in hand; 
and guided by the rein only. 

“Your father had gone with many misgivings as 
to the propriety of a Congressman being seen at a 
circus, and thought it might be a sight as amusing 
as any other portion of the menagerie, but all 
doubt was soon set at rest in his mind, for the occa- 
sion was graced by the presence of the President 
and several of his Cabinet. While performing 
some feat of leger-de-main, Riddick held a glass of 
wine, raising it to his lips he cried : 

“ ‘Health to the man of the People’ of course, it 
was intended as a compliment to the President; 
but the democrats are becoming so uncontrollable, 
that no action like this is freed from the suspicion 
of having a double meaning; this prevails too 
much everywhere, tell your grand-father. 

“You are too young to know aught of politics 
yet ; when you return you will have enough I sup- 
pose ; unless meanwhile your grand-father’s influ- 
ence and example, induce you to go into the 
church, for which I should be very grateful. We 
are honing to see your uncle and aunt with the two 


164 


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little girls, on this side ere many more months pass 
by; but the temptation to Christine to linger in 
Scotland and France, must be very great. And 
now my boy, I must close; remember always to 
profit by the example of your father and my father. 
Praying for Pleaven’s best blessings on your dear 
young head, I am, Your loving, 

“Mother.” 

From Lady Christine to her Sons: 

“Philadelphia, April 25th, ’95. 

* * * * * * * 

“It seems as if much more than eighteen months 
had passed since I last saw you my boys ; and your 
weekly letters are of the greatest comfort to us. 

“I am writing now the fourth within the month, 
so you are never long without news from us. 
Since I last wrote, your cousin Elizabeth, has been 
addressed by Mr. Gatliff, and your uncle and aunt 
have given consent to their engagement; Little 
Mary is very busy still at her books ; as she is now 
fourteen, I shall soon have to stop calling her little. 
Thomas is her devoted companion and helps her 
with her lessons; she is progressing well in her 
English and French, which I speak frequently to 
Louise and herself. Oh ! how I long to have you 
all around us once more ; I feel very like a way- 
farer, having no settled abiding place. Louise is 
as bright and clever as ever, and it is a great relief 
to your father to have the two young girl’s so- 


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165 


ciety to turn to from the wearisome matters of 
state and craft and policy. He is very glad you 
have fixed upon the law as your profession, Jack; 
but Stuart, your uncle Corbin says two physicians 
in one family will be enough to kill them all out; 
however, I think he is really pleased that you will 
succeed him in his practice; Thomas will simply 
be always a planter and country-gentleman; so 
you Jack are really the only one who follows your 
father’s profession. I suppose Traquair upholds 
you in this also, so you are on both sides a lawyer 
by inheritance. I am pained to hear what you 
have written of aunt Louisa; I fear she will not 
survive many months; I suppose from what you 
write that Louise is much with her now; don’t let 
your uncle sink into too great seclusion in Tra- 
quair House; he is certainly fitted in every way 
to take a leading part in the country, and it would 
rouse him, so from his sad reflections over the 
past. I wish he would come to this new country. 
The men here are so full of energy, and interest in 
the government; and Traquair might feel inspired 
to live for Scotland, but he can never be reconciled 
to the Protestant succession; you will not sym- 
pathize with him in this, although I think I have in- 
spired you both with true love to the Stuarts ; the 
young cannot understand clinging to what is long 
since passed away ; but you will know it all some 
day. 

“The recent past is recalled to us very often in 


i66 


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this city, by the presence of some great ones con- 
nected with it. M. Talleyrand, is now living here 
at Ocller’s Hotel ; he is said to be inelegant, and is 
not the type of a French gentleman; he is cold in 
manner, and ’tis objected to him that he fills his 
mouth with too much food when he eats ! Many 
persons here believe that he is the child of obscure 
parents, and was born near Mt. Desert in Maine; 
he has been to the place since he came to this coun- 
try, and the fisher-folk, think that they recognized 
in him, a boy who was sent off to France many 
years ago. 

“The Due. de Rochefoucauld, is also here; and 
the Marquis de EaFayette’s young son with his 
tutor. He is the ward of the President, who pre- 
fers that he should not be very much in society, 
while his father is in Olmutz, and his mother and 
sisters in such sore distress of mind; he is named 
for the President. On our way from your grand- 
parents’ country place at ‘Mountain Way’ we 
stopped in Fredericksburg and saw Mrs. Mercer 
and Hugh is now here at the University with 
Thomas; they see much of each other and Hugh 
is as much one of us as Thomas is; his Scotch 
blood makes my heart warm to him even more 
than it would do, to such a fine manly fellow under 
any circumstances, especially to the son of such 
a man as General Mercer. He delights to hear of 
Culloden, and is never wearied of conversation, if 
I make the Prince Charles Edward the theme. 


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167 


Each Sunday, he passes a little while after service 
at his father’s grave. This is the last year, of the 
President’s administration, and he declines posi- 
tively holding the office again; so when you re- 
turn, some one else will wear the title and the bur- 
den it brings with it. 

“Mr. Jefferson is one of the ablest of living men, 
and he will probably be elected to the office ; he is 
opposed to the President politically. I think after 
he retires we will also, and spend our remaining 
years quietly in Virginia. I am glad to leave Wil- 
liamsburg in summer, the heat and musquitoes are 
so oppressive. What must it be then farther 
south? But — Hon. John Rutledge, and Hon. Mr. 
Pinckney, speak of Charleston in Carolina as an 
earthly Eden; yet the thermometer reaches nine- 
ty-three in the shade as late as October ! It re- 
quires Mr. Rutledge’s wonderful eloquence to con- 
vince me that it is such a delightful spot, save so- 
cially, its men and women are refined and culti- 
vated. The winters here make one remember the 
grand roaring fire places at Traquair House and in 
Edinboro. While you are even now in April sit- 
ting near one, imagine your parents and little sis- 
ters, in this gay city, yet never losing thought for 
the absentees, who claim such a large share of their 
love. 

“Good-bye now my sons. All good attend you 
prays Your loving mother, 

“Christine Stuart Grieein.” 


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The Griffins 


In 1796 a very fair bride left Hazeldean for Phil- 
adelphia, and was no less admired as Mrs. Gatliff 
than she had been as Miss Elizabeth Griffin. Jack 
Stuart Griffin finished his course at Edinboro the 
same year, and found Philadelphia life so pleasing 
that he decided to live there instead of Williams- 
burg. His Uncle Charles had imbued him with 
many of his own notions, yet he never could be 
other than a Protestant. Samuel Stuart Griffin 
became his Uncle Corbin’s assistant in the large 
practice which he had on the Peninsula, and it was 
not long ere he took unto himself a fair Miss Lewis 
to wife. When he advised Jack “that a man was 
too sorry a fellow as a bachelor,” that young gen- 
tleman had replied: 

“Uncle Charley wasn’t a sorry fellow when he 
had us with him ; and I will have nephews and 
nieces to love ; as for a wife — I am afraid to make 
the experiment ; the whole family has been in such 
great luck so far; not a single blank, every one 
prizes from our honored grandmother down. I 
might make the scales turn in the opposite direc- 
tion; so better let me rest in single blessedness, 
and be the bachelor son and brother always wel- 
comed in each home.” 

And upon this point Jack continued incorrigible 
to the end. Louis Philippe visited Philadelphia 
during this year, and entertained his friends in one 
room over a barber-shop, where he lived in ac- 
cordance with his straitened means, although had 


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169 


he chosen to accept the obligation he could have 
had credit to a large, even an unlimited amount, 
and thus have been enabled to live in accordance 
with his rank. His gentle, unassuming manner 
pleased all who met him. 

In 1797 all of our family circle were once again 
in their several homes. Washington was at 
Mount Vernon enjoying a rural life more than he 
had ever done; Judge Griffin and Lady Christine 
were once more in Williamsburg; Dr. Griffin and 
Mary, his wife, at Rippon Hall; Colonel Samuel 
and Dolly at Hazeldean; while Thomas now cul- 
tivated his father’s estate and Braxton was his 
grandfather’s curate at Oxford. The nestlings 
were fledged now, and had left the parent homes 
just as their parents had done before them. Old 
Mr. and Mrs. Griffin still kept open house for 
children and grandchildren, and Mammy Tina held 
undisputed sway below stairs, as her mistress did 
above. Thus matters went on with each and all 
until at last December of ’99 came. On the 14th 
of that month Washington died and the whole 
country was in mourning, and the joyful season so 
near at hand was shadowed over by the cloud of 
sorrow. Yet nothing can ever wholly dim the 
sacred joy it brings to each Christian home. 


CHAPTER XVI. 


A Christmas Day in Old Virginia. 

“The mistletoe hung on the castle wall; 

The holly-branch shone in the old oak hall.” 

Christmas day of 1799 rose fair and bright in old 
Williamsburg, which had settled down to the quiet 
respectability of a small city; but in the house on 
Woodpecker Street bustle and activity were seen 
in kitchen and in parlor, as on the day when our 
story opened thirty years before. A new Raleigh 
was on the scene in the dining-room, and under his 
father’s watchful eye was laying the breakfast table 
with covers for twenty guests. 

“Don’t let spec t ks be seen on glass or silber, yo’ 
keerless young feller,” said his father. “No sech 
Christmas day as dis has ebber befo’ bin seen in 
dis house, an’ I t’ink dis de berry las’ time all kin 
be togedder here. Eben Marse Braxton cum, an’ 
de Vicar an’ his wife, all de way fum Englan’, and 
de t’ings dere do shine so bright, it meks me 
shamed ter see yer wuk here, Rallee. Now jes’ 
look at dis knife ! ’En’t you’ ’shamed, w’en I bin 
teachin’ yo’ ebber since yo’ was knee-high ter a 
duck? How kin I ebber mek yo’ 1 ’arn?” 

While “Uncle” Raleigh was scolding, he was 
surveying with all the pride of a major-domo, and 
a father combined, the beautifully-polished mahog- 


The Griffins 


171 

any and the bright silver, which shone brilliantly 
in the blaze of the roaring and crackling fire. But 
soon he was aroused from his well-satisfied reflec- 
tions by the sound of his name called by two fresh 
young voices: 

“Uncle Ra — leigh, Uncle Ra — leigh!” 

In obedience to these summons, which it was 
his wont to obey, he went into the drawing- 
room, where Mary and Louise were busily ar- 
ranging holly and mistletoe and cedar; they were 
perched on two chairs with a garland suspended 
at arm’s length above their heads, and as Uncle 
Raleigh entered they both exclaimed : 

“Please, Uncle Raleigh, come quickly and fasten 
this ; it is too high for us, and we want it specially 
to be over a throne we are making for grand- 
father’s and grandmother’s easy chairs to be placed 
upon ; and we don’t want anybody else to know of 
it. All the lower part is finished, but we must get 
this out of the way of grandpapa’s head, he is so 
tall ; and if you don’t fix it we will have to give up 
our pet idea, which we have worked at so long. 
See these beautiful letters in white which are to go 
just in the middle?” 

First one and then the other had spoken, and 
now when they both paused to take breath, Uncle 
Raleigh said in his habitually sententious manner : 

“Well, jes’ stop now a minit’ an’ res’, littl’ 
Masses, an’ I’ll see what kin be dun. ’Tain’t no 
Uje, howebber, ter be doir*’ so much in secret an’ 


172 


The Griffins 


den tellin’ ebberybody ’bout it by callin’ out ter me 
at de berry top ob your voices; leastways, dat 
feller Rallee, wid his sharp ears an’ long tongue 
will tell de odder sarvants fust t’ing yo’ know.” 

With a lively sense of his own importance and 
trustworthiness, Uncle Raleigh hung the garlands 
and arranged the initial letters in place — “L. G.” 
and “M. B. G.” Very pretty they were, standing 
out in relief from the dark green background. 

“And now, Uncle Raleigh, you must have every- 
thing arranged for dancing in here this evening. 
The rugs must all be moved, and a little more wax 
on the floor, for every one will dance to-night, 
while you and Uncle Prince play the violins. 
Uncle Corbin and Aunt Mary, and Thomas, and 
all from Hazeldean will be here in time for service. 
When will Hugh come, Louise?” 

“Certainly by the first of January; and he said it 
was just possible he would be here this evening, 
but it was hard to leave home at Christmas ; so I 
thought it was best that he should. But oh ! I wish 
he could come !” And the little lady gave a sigh as 
if she had forgotten all about its being Christmas 
for a whole minute. The breakfast bell soon put an 
end to the running conversation which the young 
folk carried on while instructing Uncle Raleigh as 
to the requisite arrangement of furniture, etc., for 
the evening’s entertainment. Master Thomas ar- 
rived on horseback from Rippon Hall just in time, 
for he pleaded : 


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173 


“How could I let every one else bid ‘Merry 
Christmas’ to Mary before I did, when I have the 
‘foremost right in all the world.’ ” 

A right merry group surrounded the aged mas- 
ter and mistress at the well-laden board, and much 
raillery was levelled at Jack for his continuance in 
the path of single-blessedness ; and to all he made 
some good excuse. At last, “My son,” said the 
Judge, “why did you not try to win Mrs. Bing- 
ham ? You spoke so much of her.” 

“Because, sir,” said Jack, “no less a person than 
Louis Philippe tried it, and what answer did her 
father make him ? ‘If you recover your kingdom, 
you will be too great for her ; if not, she is too great 
for you.’ So, as Uncle Charley says I can never 
have my earldom,* she is too great for the lawyer 
who looks no higher than a judgeship ; but I won’t 
break my heart over lands or lady fair.” 

After breakfast came family prayers, and a fer- 
vent thanksgiving was offered by the head of the 
household for the manifold mercies vouchsafed. 
“A hundred years since” men were not ashamed 
to follow this time-honored custom of their Eng- 
lish ancestors. The new gospel which had 
reached our shores from France had not thought 
the quaint little city of Williamsburg worthy of 
“conversion,” and so old things had not passed 
away. 

The good Vicar read the service, and Brax- 


*Unless he became a British subject. 


174 


The Griffins 


ton preached an excellent sermon on “Peace and 
Good-will,” and assisted his grandfather at the 
communion service. And Dolly thought as she 
walked from the church with father, husband, and 
son, that surely the earth was full of gladness and 
that for the present at least all sorrow and sadness 
had fled away. 

Now the dinner was served. Whoever has not 
been at a Christmas dinner in Virginia in the olden 
time, in the classic language of Raleigh, “dunno 
nothin’ ” about good cheer. Soup, fit for the 
cuisine of the French king; the grandest of rock 
and sheepshead from the York; oysters from 
Wormley’s creek, served on the half-shell, or scal- 
loped in the marl bank shells which were large 
enough to hold a quart of ordinary sized — 
but those from Wormley’s creek were aristocratic 
and objected to crowding, so Mammy’s efforts 
could only get one dozen in each shell! Then 
there was mutton — a saddle which King Charles 
would have knighted — from Rippon, turkeys from 
Hazeldean, ham cured by Mammy Tina before 
“ ’Wallis’ sur’ender,” venison brought down by 
lawyer Jack’s skill, which he had acquired in Scot- 
land, followed by Mammy Tina’s plum pudding 
(for which she had condescended to use Mrs. 
Dolly’s English recipe), mince pies, fruitcake, 
jellies, blanc-mange, etc., etc., and to aid digestion 
the best wines which had been stored away for half 
a century or more. 


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175 


Those days will never come again. “Old times 
are changed, old manners gone,” and the mind 
much misgives one if the present be so good as the 
past. A formal dinner, served for those who most 
can serve us, is the style of to-day; then it was a 
social feast for those who loved us and whom we 
loved. 

There were songs, too, given in those olden 
times after the dinner ; and in reply to Mr. Griffin’s 
toast, “Wife, children, and friends,” Samuel Grif- 
fin sang those exquisite lines which stir one’s in- 
most depths of feeling, as Tom Moore’s melodies 
usually do : 

“When the black-lettered list 
To the gods was presented, 

The evils which Fate 
For each mortal intends, 

At the long string of ills 
The kind goddess relented, 

And slipped in three blessings : 

Wife, children and friends. 

“In vain surly Pluto 
Declared he was cheated, 

That Justice Divine 
Could not compass her ends; 

The scheme of man’s penance 
He swore was defeated, 

For Earth becomes Heaven with 
Wife, children and friends. 

“If the stock of our bliss 
Be in stranger hands vested, 

The fund ill-secured 
Oft in bankruptcy ends ; 

But the heart issues bills 
Which are never protested 
When drawn on the firm of 
Wife, Children and Friends. 


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The Griffins 


“Let us drink, for my song 
Growing graver and graver 
To subjects too solemn 
Insensibly tends. 

Let us drink; pledge me high; 

Love and virtue shall flavor 
Each glass that we fill to 
Wife, children and friends.” 

Then when the Judge gave ‘'The country and 
the memory of her sons/' Dr. Griffin was called 
upon to sing General Wordon’s famous battle- 
song, which begins with the lines, 

“On Christmas Day in ’76, 

Our ragged troops with bayonets fixed, 

To Trenton marched away.” 


So the daylight faded away into twilight as in 
this merry, happy fashion, this family, having 
wealth, refinement, unity, brotherly love, and re- 
ligion as their heritage, spent Christmas day, 1799. 

Dinner being ended, while “grandma” was tak- 
ing her usual nap and the gentlemen were still at 
the table, with wine and tobacco, the indefatigable 
young people were busy with their preparations 
for the evening, and when all was in readiness 
their elders were summoned. Mr. and Mrs. Grif- 
fin, Sr., led the way to the large drawing-room, 
followed by children and grandchildren. 

First there was a little play representing Poca- 
hontas' marriage and subsequent arrival in Eng- 
land ; her recital to the courtiers there of the his- 
tory of Virginia, and of her own part therein ; of 


The Griffins 


177 


the wondrous mountains and streams which 
abounded there, and her pathetic longing for the 
blue York and the great forests. ’Twas a pretty- 
little composition, written by the young lawyer of 
the family, who was made to play Rolfe’s part, with 
Elizabeth as Pocahontas, while the other young 
folk acted as courtiers, ladies of the court, etc. 
A Virginia reel followed, in which even Mr. and 
Mrs. Griffin must take part, for the first couple at 
least, and then all of the family went up the middle 
and down, and to add brightness and picturesque- 
ness to the scene, Mammy Tina’s fresh old face, 
under a very bright bandanna, was seen eagerly 
bending forward from her seat in the corner, and 
the other servants were gazing through window 
and door-way. 

Raleigh and Prince played with all the strength 
and spirit with which the violin inspired them, and 
the classic strains of “Hop light, ladies, on the 
ball-room floor,” filled the room until the older 
couples pleaded to be released, and after “Uncle 
Raleigh” and “Uncle Prince” had wiped their fore- 
heads, and refreshed the inner man a little, “Jes’ to 
clear the wind-pipe, Master,” they sang together 
with their sons, Raleigh and Prince, a grand old 
hunting-song, then and for many years afterwards 
so popular in Virginia. 

“With a hi-ho-hivy. Hock-forward, hock-forward, Tan-tivy!” 

The bass would beautifully represent the near, 
low baying of the hounds; then the clear tenor 
12 


178 


The Griffins 


notes would represent them away off, and after a 
jew wails from the violins, the chorus would ring 
out in wild refrain, 

“This day the stag must die!” 

with such telling effect that the listeners were com- 
pletely carried away into the spirit of the chase, 
and were excited to a degree of enthusiasm such as 
no one can realize who has not heard this song as 
only negroes can sing it. 

“Ah! Jack,” said Braxton, “I believe that song 
was devised by you with malice prepense, in order 
to make me attend the chase to-morrow; but I 
think I will be content with having attended one 
in spirit to-night. I nevertheless do firmly believe 
that any man who is not made better by a gallop 
on a spirited horse in a beautiful country is neither 
a man nor a Christian, so I will go with you to the 
meet at sunrise, Jack, and then ride off with might 
and main to Rippon and Hazeldean.” 

The days of the fox-hunting clergy of Virginia 
were happily passed away, and the young English 
curate decided wisely to do naught which would 
cause the enemies of the church to speak lightly of 
her ministers. The old Dutch clock was on the 
stroke of twelve when at last the Christmas party 
dispersed to their several homes or apartments. 
Both houses — the “family mansion” and the 
“town-house” — were filled with guests, and the 
next day all would dine at the “town-house,” and 


The Griffins 


179 


later on Corbin and Samuel would each have a 
family gathering at Rippon and Hazeldean. No- 
body did anything by halves in Virginia “a hundred 
years since/’ and hospitality was a part of one’s re- 
ligion ; the motto of each home was, 

“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers;” to 
which was added, “Let brotherly love continue.” 


CHAPTER XVII. 


Treats of Some Wedding Items. 

“So gayly we’ll enter at old Rippon Hall, 

Among brides’-men, and kinsmen and brother’s and all.” 

On New Year’s Day the family all gathered at 
Hazeldean. Thursday, the 6th of January, was to 
have been celebrated at Rippon Hall by a grand 
Twelfth Night ball, but Washington’s death made 
this unseemly and only a family party would be 
held, to which Mrs. Mercer’s family would be 
added now, for the reason that so many were 
gathered this Christmastide from far and near 
First of all, it was Christmas; but there was 
another reason still — on the 6th of January, 1800, 
Thomas would marry Mary, and Hugh Mer- 
cer would marry Louise, in the old Bruton Parish 
Church in Williamsburg, in which they had been 
baptized and confirmed. Thomas and Mary had 
learned something not in the books when he 
helped her with her lessons, and Hugh Mercer and 
Louise profited by their example. 

The young gentlemen did not swerve from their 
allegiance amid the galaxy of beauty in Philadel- 
phia, but waited patiently for the little school-girls. 
No such fit time for a double wedding as the anni- 
versary of grandmamma’s and mamma’s wedding- 
day could present itself ; so all was arranged for it, 


The Griffins 


181 

and although the gathering at Rippon would be 
small, a large representation from the homes of 
Tide-water Virginia would be assembled in the 
-church. 

The star in the east was gleaming brightly over 
the altar; the Christmas evergreens — fitting em- 
blems of hope the Nativity gives us of the Life 
Everlasting — were suspended on gallery, pulpit, 
and organ loft; the New Year’s sun shone 
brightly through the white glass windows upon the 
dark mahogany of the pews and the rich dresses of 
the lovely women, and brave men who filled them ; 
the white marble memorial tablets, commemora- 
ting the virtues of the earlier colonists, stood out 
dearly defined as the bridal party entered the 
church by the large door-way. 

The solemn service was said ; then out into the 
bright sunshine glowing with faith, hope, and love. 

CONCLUSION 

We have drawn no ideal picture of life “one hun- 
dred years since” in Virginia. The personages 
whose careers we have followed really lived, 
moved, and had their being. Virginians led the 
younger colonies in the struggle against England, 
when conservative views could no longer avail. 
Yet to-day many of those names so famous have 
no representatives in the State. Washington, 
Jefferson, Madison, and John Randolph died with- 
out sons, and the latter is the only one of these 
four names which is now largely represented in 


182 


The Griffins 


Virginia, while the family whose Chronicles we 
have given has no longer a “local habitation or a 
name.” Nevertheless the grandchildren and 
great-grandchildren of Thomas and Mary Stuart, 
Elizabeth, and Louise are scattered throughout the 
length and breadth of the land — from Alaska in 
the far Northwest to Georgia in the South.* 

Surely some of these will sooner or later resume 
the name of Griffin, and once more it will hold its 
place of honor. In the meantime, when we hear 
much talk of the “New South” which is to be re- 
splendent with material prosperity, let us look 
back with pardonable pride to the old South which 
gave us soldiers such as Washington, the Pinck- 
neys, Lee, and Marion; orators such as Henry and 
Rutledge; statesmen such as Jefferson, Madison, 
the Randolphs; and citizens such as those whose 
simple annals we have recorded, who, together 
with the leading minds of the Carolinas and 
Georgia, are worthy of all honorable mention — no 
single pen can do them justice. At Charles 
Stuart’s death the Earldom of Traquair passed 
away; the estates were inherited by Lady Louise, 
the last titled member of the family. They are 
now in possession of the Honorable Mr. Maxwell, 
while the heir to the empty title — a great grand- 
nephew of Washington — is quietly fulfilling the 
duties of an American citizen. 

^General Hugh Mercer, of the Confederate Army, was the 
son of Louise and Hugh Mercer; his sons and grandchildren 
are residents of Savannah. 




NOV 10 1904 







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